An agreement has reportedly been reached for Enzo Maresca to become the new manager of Manchester City, succeeding Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.
According to reports, succession planning at City has been underway for several weeks amid growing expectations that Guardiola will bring an end to his historic spell at the Etihad Stadium this summer, despite previously insisting he still had one year remaining on his contract.
Maresca, who left Chelsea in January, quickly emerged as the leading candidate for the role due to his close connection with Guardiola’s football philosophy and his previous experience within City’s coaching staff.
The Italian coach worked as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022–23 campaign before moving into management with Leicester City and later Chelsea. During his time under Guardiola, Maresca gained valuable experience inside one of the most successful football systems in Europe.
Reports indicate that several clubs from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A showed interest in Maresca following his departure from Chelsea, with Juventus also monitoring his situation.
However, Manchester City’s long-term project and the strong relationship between Maresca and the club hierarchy reportedly played a major role in convincing him to return to the Etihad.
During his time away from management, Maresca is said to have focused on studying tactical trends and leadership methods across different sports, including learning from renowned volleyball coach Julio Velasco.
If finalized, Maresca’s appointment would mark the beginning of a new era for Manchester City following Guardiola’s trophy-laden decade in charge, during which the Spaniard transformed the club into one of the dominant forces in world football.
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