Mikel Arteta has announced his future lies at Manchester City, with a place in Pep Guardiola’s coaching set-up. He made the news public with a statement on his Twitter account, expressing his excitement for the future at the Etihad.
Twitter: Hi all, here a statement from me on the next chapter in my football career… https://t.co/2Xb9VifCog (@m8arteta)
The Spaniard announced his retirement at the end of last season after five years at Arsenal, making 150 appearances in all competitions. However, he failed to start in the Premier League last season, being utilised nine times from the bench instead. He won two FA Cup titles, but decided to call time on his playing career.
Arteta has been linked with a move to City to join Pep Guardiola for much of the time since the Catalan manager was announced in February, but has now formally announced the move. Reports recently had suggested the former Everton man was to join as the new assistant manager alongside the retained Brian Kidd, but as it stands the 34-year-old is simply describing his new job as a “coaching position”.
In his statement, Arteta said: “I am now looking forward to the challenge ahead at Manchester City. The opportunity to join Pep Guardiola and his team was an amazing opportunity for me and I am incredibly excited for the future.”
“I have been lucky enough to play under some amazing coaches and managers during my playing career and I hope to use elements of everything I’ve learnt from them as well as experience from my own playing career to help City achieve success”.
Pep Guardiola is expected to bring most of a new coaching team with him, including Domenec Torrent (assistant), Lorenzo Buenaventura (fitness coach), Carles Planchart (video analyst) and Manuel Estiarte (personal assistant and one of the world’s best former water polo players). The four-man team were previously with Pep at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Xabi Mancisdor and Brian Kidd are two of the only backroom staff retained following the departure of Manuel Pellegrini.
