Patrick Vieira’s will leave to take over at New York City FC next week, with Manchester City now left needing a new EDS coach.

Vieira replaces Jason Kreis, who was sacked after a disappointing season in charge, and will assume control of a squad containing David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard.

It represents a step up for the 39-year-old who has been touted for first-team management positions for some time after impressing in charge of City’s EDS team, but it’s a move that comes with significant risk .

From City’s perspective, they can’t lose. Vieira’s registration remains in the hands of the City Football Group (CFG) while they monitor his progress at a top-flight club.

However, for Vieira himself, it could well turn out to be a problematic and thankless task.

Major League Soccer is a competition mired in difficulty, particularly for those who have no experience of managing in America.

Ruud Gullit’s disastrous time in charge of LA Galaxy was a case in point, with the Dutchman seemingly underestimating the challenges of the division. It’s no surprise that Steve Nicol, who gained experience at lower levels in the US before taking a bigger job, fared much better when he was managing New England Revolution.

Travel distances are enormous, the draft system is far removed from the Premier League’s guidelines for signing players and the Designated Player rules and salary cap mean squad are often wildly imbalanced.

The only foreign coaches in America’s top flight who hadn’t established significant MLS experience before their appointment are Adrian Heath and Owen Coyle. The current trend is to stick with those who have a detailed understanding of the US game.

Vieira will need to adapt quickly and also accept the fact it will be difficult for him to enhance his reputation. If he does well, it will be expected, whereas if he does badly, it will be seen as a negative indictment of his managerial ability.

More on City

His strengths, of course, are his knowledge of City’s young players – he’s likely to have his pick of them in New York – and his standing in the game. Villa, Pirlo and Lampard, who are thought to have had difficult relationships with Kreis, will undoubtedly respect their new manager.

Kreis’ squad lacked balance. They had plenty of options in attacking areas, but lacked strength in depth in others. Sporting director Claudio Reyna, himself a former City player, must ensure NYCFC perform better during the draft period if Vieira is to be given a platform for success.

Anyone who thinks the Frenchman’s first senior managerial role will be a straightforward one is misguided. He will need to learn quickly if he is to have success in what is a strangely demanding league.