London City Lionesses: What led to Jocelyn Precheur sacking and what’s next for club?

While Precheur’s impact was important during the club’s infancy, there is a feeling London City are moving towards a Spanish football identity.

Barcelona have dominated club football in Europe, reaching the Champions League final in six of the past seven seasons and winning the title three times.

Spain’s national team are currently the world champions and European runners-up.

So when former Barcelona head coach Jonatan Giraldez joined Kang’s Washington Spirit in 2024, before switching to Lyon this year, it was not a huge surprise.

Spanish football has a clear identity and a way of playing – heavy possession-based football with high technical skill. It is believed London City want to achieve that, as well as the traditional physicality of the English game.

The club had a shortlist of coaches they looked at to replace Precheur and did not rule out some from the men’s game but appear to have ultimately chosen Maestre, who showed his potential with Spanish clubs CD Tenerife and Real Sociedad.

The main criteria for London City’s next appointment is believed to have been centred around the playing style, the coach’s ability to collaborate with a wider team of expertise and a track record of developing players and talented youth.

When the appointment is confirmed, Maestre would be expected to play a role in the club’s January recruitment.

London City spent big in the summer, bringing in star names such as France international Grace Geyoro and former Lyon midfielder Danielle van de Donk.

The transfer policy this time around is believed to be about targeting future stars who can adapt to London City’s new-look training programme and coaching style.

They want to be competing for silverware in the near future, and to battle the Champions League’s elite, so they are shopping for future European champions.

Maestre’s imminent arrival is likely to be paired with the appointments of other staff members, including analysts and medical experts.

What is clear is that London City are not here to make friends, they are here to rock the boat and are planning big things for the future.

Whether it pays off or not, we will have to wait and see.