'I can't wait to introduce some new ideas' - Man City sign new academy director from Stuttgart

Manchester City's new academy director has been backed by Txiki Begiristain to build on the recent success at the club.

Thomas Krucken, 46, has taken up the top job in the academy - replacing Jason Wilcox, who left to join Southampton, and arrives with more than two decades of experience in youth coaching - including the 2000/01 season with the Blues when he was in his early 20s. Krucken has joined from VfB Stuttgart, where he has been head of youth development since 2019.

City have enjoyed surging success with their academy in recent years, producing talent not only for Pep Guardiola but also for other clubs around the world. As well as having academy graduates Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, James McAtee and Cole Palmer all involved in the Premier League win at Burnley last week, the club are set to smash their record for transfer fees received for homegrown talent for a second successive summer as they expect to raise over £50m.

Continuing the charge of a club that have also won the respective leagues at Under-18 and Under-21 level for the last three years in a row will be no easy feat, and City have taken their time to replace Wilcox. Having picked their man, sporting director Begiristain explains why he believes Krucken will be a good fit.

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“Thomas is a great person who has an excellent track record in youth football," Begiristain said. “He has a vision for where our academy needs to be over the next five to ten years. His ideas match with ours, which is a great starting point.

“Over recent years, our academy has produced so many top-class players. Some have made their way into the first team and others have moved on and are having