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PEP GUARDIOLA FINALLY REPLACES MIKEL ARTETA

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola finally replaces his former assistant, Mikel Arteta as he brings in Juanma Lillo – his former boss and a man he calls ‘the maestro’ – to be his assistant at Manchester City

According to Daily Mail, Manchester City have been hunting for Mikel Arteta’s successor since his move to Arsenal last December, with first-team coach Rodolfo Borrell acting as No 2 in the interim.

Lillo – a Spaniard who has held roles at Real Sociedad, Chile and Sevilla – briefly managed Guardiola at Mexican side Dorados Sinaloa in 2006.

The pair first met in the 1990s, with Lillo a tactician in a similar mould to the City boss and their mutual hero, Johan Cruyff.

Guardiola has described Lillo as a ‘maestro’ and his spell in Mexico is credited with setting him up for the subsequent trophy-laden years at Barcelona. Lillo, meanwhile, has not been able to sustain success in management positions.

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Lillo has not yet signed a formal contract with City but, having held talks with Guardiola, is the overwhelming favourite to land the role. 

Guardiola had discussed the prospect of Vincent Kompany making the switch back to the Etihad Stadium but now looks set to land Lillo. According to Marca, Xabi Alonso was also considered as a possibility to step in as number two.

The 54-year-old Lillo has been managing Qingdao Huanghai in China, with Yaya Toure among his squad, before recently departing amid the coronavirus pandemic. Lillo once said in 2012 that Guardiola was ‘like my son’, and the pair are set to renew their relationship next season.

The City boss spent the twilight of his career in Mexico, where he learned under the stewardship of Lillo at Dorados Sinaloa, while he also labelled Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa and former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as managerial inspirations.

Lillo has been a coach since the 1980s, and became the youngest ever manager of a La Liga club when he took over as manager of Salamanca before turning 30. 

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He has spent the last couple of years in the Far East, where he resigned as manager of Vissel Kobe after finishing mid-table despite the signings of Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Lukas Podolski, as well as the financial backing of Rakuten. 

JUANMA LILLO MANAGERIAL CAREER 

1981–1985 Amaroz KE

1985–1988 Tolosa

1988–1989 Mirandes

1990–1991 Mirandes

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1991–1992 Cultural Leonesa

1992–1996 Salamanca

1996–1997 Oviedo

1998 Tenerife

2000 Zaragoza

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2003–2004 Ciudad Murcia

2004–2005 Terrassa

2005–2006 Dorados Sinaloa

2008–2009 Real Sociedad

2009–2010 Almería

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2014 Millonarios

2015–2016 Chile (assistant)

2016–2017 Sevilla (assistant)

2017 Atlético Nacional

2018–2019 Vissel Kobe

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2019– Qingdao Huanghai 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Maguire handed suspended prison sentence for 2020 brawl 

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Premier League - Manchester United v Aston Villa - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 25, 2025 Manchester United's Harry Maguire reacts REUTERS/Chris Radburn/File Photo 

England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence ​by a Greek court over a 2020 ‌incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.

In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted ​bribery and violence against public employees after ​his arrest in a brawl in which ⁠two police officers were assaulted.

Maguire, who was detained ​for two days following the incident and denied ​any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full ​retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on ​multiple charges.

In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing ‌nullified ⁠Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.

Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest ​and attempted ​bribery. The ⁠32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. ​His legal team will appeal against ​the ⁠guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.

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Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences ⁠related ​to the incident and received ​suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.

-Reuters

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Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

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 Arsenal's David Raya celebrates after Jurrien Timber scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.

Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.

Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

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Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy 

Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.

But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.

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Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.

-Reuters

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Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace

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 Premier League - Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - March 1, 2026 Manchester United's Matheus Cunha in action with Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz REUTERS/Phil Noble

Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.

Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.

The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.

“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”

Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.

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The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.

United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.

The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.

Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.

United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.

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Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”

Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”

For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.

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