The journey back to Manchester has been a rapid and impressive one for Maresca. After his successful stint as Guardiola’s right-hand man, he took his first major steps as a head coach with Leicester City. During his time at the King Power Stadium, he guided the Foxes back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
This success earned him the top job at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2024, where he continued to demonstrate his tactical acumen.
Despite his exit from Chelsea at the start of the year due to reported disagreements over club management, his stock remained high. During his tenure in London, he managed to lead the side to silverware, winning both the Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025.