Enzo Maresca appointed Manchester City head coach in £17m deal

Manchester City have appointed former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as the club’s new manager, ending months of speculation over who would replace Pep Guardiola following the Spaniard’s departure after a decade of unprecedented success at the Etihad Stadium.

The 46-year-old Italian has signed a three-year contract with City, while the Premier League champions will pay Chelsea more than £17 million (€20 million) in compensation, according to Sky in Italy.

The fee forms part of a confidential settlement between the two clubs, as Maresca was still under contract with Chelsea when he resigned on New Year’s Day.

Maresca is no stranger to Manchester City.

He previously managed the club’s Elite Development Squad, guiding them to the Premier League 2 title in the 2020/21 season, before serving as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s historic 2022/23 treble-winning campaign.

Speaking after his appointment, Maresca described the opportunity as a dream come true, highlighting his familiarity with the club’s culture and ambitions.

“Manchester City is a club I know very well, and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me”, he said.

“This will be my third spell here. I know the demands, the expectations and the quality of the people who work here. I cannot wait to start coaching the players”.

Maresca enjoyed a successful spell at Chelsea, leading the Blues to UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup titles while securing a fifth-place Premier League finish.

However, his tenure ended abruptly after disagreements behind the scenes and his growing interest in succeeding Guardiola became known.

Chelsea released a strongly worded statement confirming Maresca informed the club in autumn 2025 of his desire to become City’s next manager.

The club claimed his focus had shifted away from Stamford Bridge, forcing them to accept his resignation midway through the season.

Chelsea also revealed that confidential compensation agreements had been reached with both Manchester City and Maresca.

The Blues expressed confidence in their new head coach, Xabi Alonso, praising his professionalism and football intelligence as they look to move forward.

Guardiola departed Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 campaign after winning 17 major trophies during his remarkable 10-year reign.

Although City narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Arsenal last season, Guardiola leaves behind one of the greatest managerial legacies in English football.

City believe Maresca’s deep understanding of the club’s football philosophy, combined with his recent managerial success, will ensure a smooth transition into the post-Guardiola era as they seek continued domestic and European success.

Photos