Manchester City appoints Enzo Maresca as head coach, succeeding Pep Guardiola
Enzo Maresca has returned to Manchester City as the club’s new head coach, signing a three-year deal. He takes over from Pep Guardiola, who departed after a decade with the club. Maresca previously served as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign.
The appointment marks a rapid ascent in management for the 46-year-old Italian, who took on his first head coach role in 2021. He described the new position as a “huge challenge,” noting that the club’s intention is to maintain a similar style of football and philosophy.
Maresca’s coaching approach is influenced by both Italian and Spanish football, with his exposure to Guardiola’s Barcelona during his playing career in Spain being a significant factor. This experience, particularly facing Barcelona, opened his eyes to a new style of play, fostering a trend for technical, possession-based teams.
His connection to Spain is also personal, as he met his assistant, Willy Caballero, there, and his children were born in the country. Spanish is now the primary language spoken in his home. Additionally, former Manchester City and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, whom Maresca considers his “football father,” recognised his coaching potential during his playing days.
Maresca’s return and club philosophy
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has openly discussed Maresca’s return, highlighting his two previous stints with the club – first with the academy and then as an assistant coach. Khaldoon noted that Maresca drew significant inspiration from Guardiola’s philosophy while also developing his own.
The chairman believes Maresca brings substantial value to the club and expects fans to appreciate his football philosophy and how the team will perform under his leadership. He also mentioned that Maresca embraces the challenge of following Guardiola’s successful tenure.
Maresca was an influential figure during his season under Guardiola, with the Spanish manager reportedly relying on him for tactical innovations. This period included the rebranding of England defender John Stones as a central midfielder, a move that proved crucial in the Champions League final victory against Inter Milan.
Before his role as assistant, Maresca led City’s Elite Development Squad in the 2020-21 season, leaving a positive impression on the academy. Gareth Taylor, who worked with Maresca at City, observed that Enzo brought a different approach, allowing more freedom in team setups, which was seen as a positive evolution.
Maresca’s journey included a spell at Parma, followed by managerial roles at Leicester City and then Chelsea. His time at Leicester City saw him win the Championship title before moving to Chelsea.
City insiders have expressed confidence in Maresca, expecting him to continue the club’s established philosophy. Guardiola secured 20 trophies during his 10 years, setting a high standard for his successor.
The club’s players are scheduled to begin pre-season training on 20 July. Maresca’s immediate priorities include addressing player contracts and potential new signings. The record arrival of England midfielder Elliot Anderson, reportedly valued at £116m, is expected to be confirmed soon, and the club is also looking to sign a new right-back.
There has been speculation about Chelsea’s Malo Gusto reuniting with Maresca, and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder, has also been linked with a move. Additionally, securing a new deal for midfielder Rodri, who is entering the final 12 months of his contract, will be a key task for Maresca.
The Italian also faces a decision regarding his number one goalkeeper, as he prefers a shot-stopper skilled with their feet. The choice is between compatriot Gianluigi Donnarumma and potentially giving James Trafford an opportunity to become a regular first-team player.
Tactical approach and past experiences
Maresca views himself as a master tactician who values control. His teams typically play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to dominate possession, prevent counter-attacks, and maintain a strong presence on the field. This style bears a resemblance to Guardiola’s teams, requiring physical intensity from attackers to press high and win the ball.
While at Chelsea and Leicester, Maresca experienced periods of poor form, despite overall success. He faced criticism for slow build-up play, but he often counters this with fluid positional rotations to avoid stagnant attacks. An example of this was Marc Cucurella’s effective advanced midfield role at the end of last season.
A tactical highlight was seen in the Club World Cup final, where an asymmetric overlapping full-back, Malo Gusto, was introduced on the right. This tactic constrained Paris St-Germain’s Nuno Mendes and created space for Cole Palmer in a 3-0 victory in New Jersey.
Maresca’s tactical depth is further evidenced by his 7,000-word thesis on the similarities between football and chess, written at Italy’s Coverciano institute. He drew parallels between football strategy and grandmaster chess, referencing a 1991 World Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi.
Like Guardiola, Maresca seeks inspiration from outside football, consulting with figures such as Argentine-Italian volleyball coach Julio Velasco and basketball coach Ettore Messina. He is also known to be studying artificial intelligence and has been observed attending a Leicester City home game against Norwich.
Maresca’s departure from Chelsea in January occurred after he informed the club in the autumn that he might have an opportunity to succeed Guardiola. Chelsea stated that Maresca’s resignation was due to his strong desire to pursue this opportunity, despite being under a long-term contract.
Chelsea confirmed that a confidential settlement, including compensation, has been reached with Manchester City. A separate confidential agreement has also been made with Maresca for compensation to be paid to Chelsea. Maresca apologised for the disruption his mid-season departure caused, acknowledging that his resignation “opened a path” for him to join Manchester City.
His departure from Chelsea followed a period of one win in seven Premier League matches, and the club ended the season in 10th place. Maresca’s first season at Chelsea saw the club qualify for the Champions League and win the Club World Cup and the Conference League.
Maresca’s assistants, Willy Caballero and Danny Walker, are expected to rejoin him at Manchester City. Maresca’s appointment was confirmed in June 2026.
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Source: bbc.com
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
