August 23 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has undergone emergency back surgery and will be out of action for up to a month, the club said.
Guardiola has been suffering with severe back pain for some time and decided to have an operation in Barcelona, where he will spend time recovering. The surgery was successful, the club said.
His assistant, Juanma Lillo, will take over his duties in the meantime.
“He is expected to return after the forthcoming international break,” City said of Guardiola.
Last season’s treble winners have Premier League games against Sheffield United and Fulham before the domestic season pauses for two weeks for international matches.
Their first game back is against West Ham on September16, and the group stage of the Champions League begins the following midweek.
The 57-year-old Lillo is in his second stint as Guardiola’s assistant at City, having held the position from 2020-22.
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