Willy Caballero rejoins Man City in Enzo Maresca's confirmed coaching staff
Synopsis
Willy Caballero is back at the Etihad — and this time as a coach. Manchester City have confirmed Enzo Maresca's full backroom team, a tightly knit unit forged across Leicester and Chelsea, with the Argentine goalkeeper-turned-coach rejoining the club where his penalty heroics once won a League Cup.
Key Takeaways
Manchester City confirmed Enzo Maresca's full coaching staff on 9 July .
Former goalkeeper Willy Caballero returns to the Etihad Stadium , having made 48 appearances for the club from 2014 .
Roberto Vitiello , aged 43 , joins as Maresca's new assistant manager after following him through Parma , Leicester , and Chelsea .
James French (set-piece coach) and Richard Wright (goalkeeping coach) retain their roles from the 2025/26 season .
Maresca signed a three-year contract as City manager last month.
Manchester City have officially confirmed the full coaching staff that will serve under new manager Enzo Maresca, with former goalkeeper Willy Caballero among the most notable returnees to the Etihad Stadium. The club announced the backroom lineup on 9 July, completing the off-field picture as Maresca prepares for his first season in charge.
The Full Coaching Staff
Maresca will be supported by Roberto Vitiello as assistant manager, alongside Willy Caballero, Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Marcos Alvarez, Denis Silva, and Javier Molina. Set-piece coach James French and goalkeeping coach Richard Wright will retain the roles they held during the 2025/26 season, providing continuity within the new setup.
Caballero's Return to the Etihad
Caballero's reappointment carries particular sentimental weight at the club. The Argentine shot-stopper spent three years at City from 2014, making 48 appearances and playing a pivotal role in the 2013/14 League Cup triumph with his penalty shootout heroics. He has since worked alongside Maresca at both Leicester City and Chelsea, making him one of the manager's most trusted backroom allies. Notably, the two share a longer history — they were team-mates at Malaga in Spain under former City boss Manuel Pellegrini.
Roberto Vitiello: The New Assistant
Vitiello, 43, brings a rich playing and coaching pedigree to the role. He began his career at Parma and went on to represent Cesena, Vicenza, Rimini, Siena, and Palermo — the latter alongside Maresca — before retiring with Juve Stabia. He transitioned into coaching at Fiorentina and has since followed Maresca through stints at Parma, Leicester, and Chelsea.
Roles Within the New Setup
Danny Walker is another familiar face returning to the Etihad, having previously worked in City's academy structure before linking up with Maresca at Leicester and Chelsea. De Bernardin takes charge as the new head of goalkeeping, Alvarez steps in as fitness coach, Silva joins as a first-team coach, and Molina assumes the analyst role.
Maresca's Mandate at City
Maresca was announced as Manchester City's new manager last month, signing a three-year contract. With a tightly knit staff that has worked together across multiple clubs, the new manager arrives with a pre-built unit rather than assembling one from scratch — a structural advantage as he begins the task of reshaping one of English football's most decorated sides. All eyes will now turn to pre-season preparations and Maresca's first competitive decisions.
Point of View
Caballero, Walker — has worked with him before, at Leicester and Chelsea. That continuity is a tactical asset but also a risk: City's dressing room is stocked with established egos, and a manager arriving with a closed inner circle offers little room for the kind of organic trust-building that big clubs sometimes need. The real question is whether Maresca's system, which worked in a development environment at Leicester and a transitional one at Chelsea, can scale to a squad built for immediate title contention.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Willy Caballero and why is his return to Man City significant?
Willy Caballero is an Argentine goalkeeper who played for Manchester City from 2014, making 48 appearances and winning the 2013/14 League Cup with his penalty shootout heroics. He is returning to the Etihad as part of Enzo Maresca's coaching staff, having previously worked with Maresca at Leicester City and Chelsea.
Who is Enzo Maresca's assistant manager at Manchester City?
Roberto Vitiello has been appointed as Maresca's assistant manager at Manchester City. The 43-year-old Italian has followed Maresca through coaching roles at Parma, Leicester, and Chelsea, and was also his team-mate at Palermo as a player.
Which members of Man City's coaching staff are staying on?
Set-piece coach James French and goalkeeping coach Richard Wright will continue in the roles they held during the 2025/26 season, providing continuity within Maresca's new-look backroom team.
When did Enzo Maresca sign as Manchester City manager?
Maresca was announced as Manchester City's new manager last month, signing a three-year contract. The club confirmed his full coaching staff on 9 July.
What are the roles within Maresca's new coaching setup at Man City?
Michele De Bernardin is the new head of goalkeeping, Marcos Alvarez serves as fitness coach, Denis Silva is a first-team coach, and Javier Molina is the analyst. Danny Walker also joins the staff, having previously worked in City's academy alongside Maresca.
