Manchester City have given Giovanni van Bronckhorst a wide-ranging position within the club's backroom team as they start to plan for life after Pep Guardiola, according to The Mirror.
Van Bronckhorst left his role as manager of Feyenoord at the end of last season and had planned to take a year's sabbatical from football.
However, after initially spending a month behind the scenes at the Etihad, he has now signed a contract with Manchester City.
The plan is for the former Holland international to remain at the club for as long as possible, with an eye on the eventual departure of Guardiola.
The Spaniard has a contract running until 2021 and talks have yet to begin over what lies beyond that.
Having initially worked as assistant to Ronald Koeman, van Bronckhorst took charge of Feyenoord in March 2015 and lifted the Eredivisie title in 2017, plus two Dutch Cups.
Van Bronckhorst is familiar to key Manchester City decision makers chief executive Feran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain having spent time together at Barcelona after joining from Arsenal in 2003.
The hope is he may follow a path like Patrick Vieira, who had a similar arrangement after retiring in 2011 and worked with the club's development teams before taking over New York City FC.
DaisyM_____
1
Arteta should be give a chance..
tedbdemu
0
He should be made pep assistant or given our team B so we can see how good he is, but I don't fancy him, keep pep and give Arteta the chance
ManCityFanForever
0
I have seen him playing against City in UCL. He isn’t that promising, keep Pep or find better manager.
ManCityFanForever
1
Wait! We’re not ready to let Guardiola go.
Roroo7
1
Legend. His goal against uruguay in 2010 world cup is something that i still cherish in my life and will always do so. What a shot it was really wonderful Stunner