Manchester City are facing a battle to keep hold of Under-21 coach Ben Wilkinson this summer amid interest from various clubs. The academy coach has spent the last eight years with the Blues but could be the next member of staff tempted away by a coaching job in senior football, adding to a huge summer of change at the Etihad.
Wilkinson's Rise Through the Ranks
Wilkinson took over the role from Brian Barry-Murphy in 2024, who left after three seasons to pursue his coaching ambitions. After a spell as Leicester assistant, Barry-Murphy took the managerial job at Cardiff last season and won promotion from League One at the first attempt.
Barry-Murphy had taken over the City Under-21 job from Enzo Maresca, who is set to be announced as Pep Guardiola's successor at the Etihad following success in charge of Leicester and Chelsea. After seeing the work that Wilkinson has done with the Under-21s, the coach has head coach interest from League One and abroad, while Championship clubs are keen on appointing him as an assistant coach.
Wilkinson's Background and Achievements
Wilkinson, son of former Leeds manager Howard, joined City from Sheffield Wednesday's academy in 2018 and spent two years as an Under-21s assistant before taking charge of the Under-16s in 2020 and taking over the Under-18s a year later. Three seasons at that age level saw Wilkinson win two Under-18 league titles and the FA Youth Cup, as well as taking an integral role in the development of Nico O'Reilly as he broke into the first team under Pep Guardiola.
Moving up to the Under-21s in 2024, Wilkinson's team won the league in his first season and reached the semi-finals this year with a new group of players. Another six youngsters made their first team debuts for City this season and O'Reilly was crowned as the Premier League Young Player of the Year.
Summer of Change at City
City have already said goodbye to Guardiola and nearly all of his coaches this summer, with set-piece coach James French the only member of his backroom staff staying. While Maresca is expected to bring his own people, Wilkinson's departure would create another important gap in City's coaching network.
