NYCFC appoints Guardiola's right-hand man Torrent as new head coach

New York City FC moved swiftly to announce Domenec Torrent as Patrick Vieira's successor on Monday.

The new head coach will be familiar to some as Pep Guardiola's right-hand man at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. The Spaniard signed a contract to take him until the end of the 2020 Major League Soccer season.

NYCFC, positioned second in the Eastern Conference, was forced to search for an overseer of the senior setup after Vieira decided to take charge at Ligue 1's Nice. Torrent was in charge of Girona before winning 24 trophies as Guardiola's assistant.

"Though I have enjoyed a wonderful 11 years working alongside my colleague and close friend Pep Guardiola, it has always been my ambition to manage a team again and I really couldn't have hoped for a better opportunity than at this football club," Torrent said.

"I know we have a very talented team. I have watched many of the matches and I enjoy the way the team plays and I now can't wait to begin working with the players on the training pitch."

New York City FC is part of the City Football Group, a wealthy Abu Dhabi-backed consortium spearheaded by Manchester City, and delved into the Premier League club's Elite Development Squad to hire its boss Vieira in 2016. How interwoven the two clubs are was demonstrated when Manchester City was first to break news that Vieira was leaving NYCFC for Nice on Sunday evening. The post was later deleted.

"I am looking forward to living and coaching in this special city and meeting the fans as soon as possible," Torrent added. "I am eager to experience and play a part in the soccer culture of New York.

"I'd like to thank the players and all my colleagues at Manchester City for making my time at the football club such a wonderful and memorable experience."

Torrent will assume his new position at NYCFC upon the receipt of his U.S. work permit.