Manchester City have named Enzo Maresca as their new head coach, confirming the former Chelsea manager will take charge from next season following Pep Guardiola’s departure after a
decade of unprecedented success.
The Premier League champions announced the appointment on Monday, with Maresca signing a three-year contract as the club begins a new chapter after Guardiola’s trophy-laden reign.
Chelsea confirmed they had reached an agreement with City over a compensation package for the Italian, with British media reporting the deal to be worth around £17 million ($22.5 million).
Maresca returns to familiar surroundings, having previously managed Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad before serving as Guardiola’s assistant during the club’s historic domestic treble-winning campaign in 2018-19.
"Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me," Maresca said. "I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City."
The 46-year-old’s managerial career began at Parma in 2021, where he lasted just 14 matches. He rebuilt his reputation by leading Leicester City to the Championship title and promotion to the Premier League before taking over at Chelsea.
During his spell at Stamford Bridge, Maresca guided Chelsea to a fourth-place Premier League finish while winning both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, tensions with the club’s ownership eventually led to his departure midway through his second season.
Chelsea said Maresca requested to leave after learning of the opportunity to replace Guardiola, despite being under a long-term contract.
"It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity," Chelsea said in a statement. The club also revealed that Maresca resigned unexpectedly in December 2025, describing the decision as disappointing.
Manchester City confirmed they had held confidential discussions with Maresca while he was still Chelsea manager.
The Italian acknowledged the impact his exit had on Chelsea’s campaign, apologising to supporters and the club.
"I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish," he said. "I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure."
Chelsea have since appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager.
Maresca now inherits one of football’s most demanding jobs, replacing Guardiola, whose 10-year tenure transformed Manchester City into the dominant force in English football. Guardiola delivered six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League trophy, and numerous domestic honours before announcing his departure in May.
"City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful," Maresca said. "For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively."
Despite the expectations, Maresca said he is embracing the challenge.
"It’s a huge challenge, for many reasons. All the success over the last 10 to 15 years, but at the same moment it’s a nice challenge," he said. "It’s exciting because the target is to continue what has been achieved over the last decade."
Maresca’s first match in charge will come against Arsenal in the FA Community Shield on Aug. 16 before City open their Premier League campaign a week later at home to Bournemouth. Photo by Oscar0123, Wikimedia commons.
