"I know Man City very well, and it's fantastic to have the opportunity to lead this team," Maresca said at his unveiling today. "The club is excellently run, everything has a clear plan and direction. It's an ideal environment for a coach. This is also my third time working here, so I understand the club's demands and expectations."

The Italian coach affirmed his goal is to help Man City win championships, play attractive football, and enjoy the pressure of managing one of the world's top teams.

Man City announced Enzo Maresca as head coach on a three-year contract on 29/6. Photo: Man City

Before returning to the Etihad, Maresca departed Chelsea by mutual agreement on 1/1/2026, despite having three and a half years left on his contract. In his single full season managing the Stamford Bridge club, he led his players to victories in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. He also guided the team to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, improving by five places from the previous season.

Immediately after Man City announced Maresca's appointment, Chelsea released a lengthy statement explaining the reasons for the Italian coach's departure earlier this year. According to the statement, Chelsea's board was informed by Maresca in autumn 2025 that he had an opportunity to succeed Pep Guardiola at Man City and was keen to pursue the position, despite his long-term contract with the club.

Chelsea stated that Maresca unexpectedly resigned in December 2025, forcing the club to change coaches mid-season to protect the team's interests. The announcement also revealed that both parties reached confidentiality agreements, under which Man City paid compensation to Chelsea, and Maresca also had to pay a sum to his former club under a separate agreement.

Man City posted a video announcing the appointment of coach Enzo Maresca. Video: X/Man City

After joining Man City, Maresca posted an apology on Instagram, acknowledging that his decision to resign was entirely his own and that leaving Chelsea mid-season caused disruption.

"I am aware that leaving Chelsea mid-season affected the club, and I apologize for that. It was not what I wanted. I am always grateful to Chelsea, the board, and the fans for giving me the opportunity," the 46-year-old coach wrote.

Enzo Maresca with coach Pep Guardiola and members of the Man City coaching staff celebrating the Premier League title in the 2022-2023 season. Photo: Man City

Maresca previously managed Man City's U21 team in the 2020-2021 season, leading them to win the Premier League 2 (the English U21 league). After a brief, unsuccessful spell as head coach of Parma, he returned to the Etihad in summer 2022 to serve as an assistant to Guardiola during the season Man City achieved its historic treble.

His time working alongside the Spanish tactician helped Maresca become a prime example of "Pep's school of thought". His approach to organizing play shares many similarities, from ball control and building from the back, to creating numerical superiority in midfield and demanding almost absolute positional discipline from players.

While managing Leicester, Maresca impressed with a cohesive ball-circulation system, which helped the team gain promotion to the Premier League. That success led him to Chelsea in summer 2024, though he only remained for 18 months.

According to Sky Sports, Man City anticipates a smooth transition from Guardiola to Maresca. The Etihad club believes the Italian coach understands the club's philosophy, has experience working with many coaching staff members, and is capable of continuing to develop the young squad Guardiola leaves behind.

Hong Duy (according to Sky Sports)