Manchester City have confirmed that Enzo Maresca is the man charged with replacing Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. The 46-year-old Italian was unveiled as Guardiola’s successor on Monday on a three-year contract, reports say. His arrival puts an end to one of the worst-kept secrets in European football this season.
Maresca’s appointment is a third incredible spell at the club for the former player who thrived in their setup previously. He was head coach of their Elite Development Squad, winning the Premier League 2 title in 2020-21, before joining the coaching staff of Guardiola. The assistant role was during the 2022-23 campaign, which concluded with City winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League to complete a historic treble.
Chelsea quickly followed up the city’s announcement with a pointed statement that they have received compensation from both the club and Maresca. Last autumn, the Blues were told their former head coach could have a chance of succeeding Guardiola, even though he was under a long-term contract that he had no right to end, it emerged yesterday.
His sudden resignation on January 1 upset their season, they said, resulting in confidential settlements allegedly worth more than £17m (€20m) in compensation. Maresca confronted the controversy head-on in an Instagram post on Monday night. He said the decision to leave was his and admitted he was over the moon to be joining a club he knew very well. The ex-Leicester City manager also apologised for the disruption his mid-season departure caused everyone at Stamford Bridge.
His form convinced the City hierarchy that he could handle the pressure at the very top. The Italian won 55 of his 92 games as Blues boss, winning the Conference League and Club World Cup before his surprise exit. Maresca now has the herculean task of following a man who delivered 20 major trophies in 10 years at the Etihad.
What Maresca Leaving Means For Chelsea & Xabi Alonso
As City celebrate their new appointment, Chelsea have already moved decisively to begin a new chapter of their own. Xabi Alonso will take over the role from July 1, 2026, signing a four-year deal, the club announced in May. His arrival is a statement of intent from a hierarchy that has been craving real stability for some time.
Alonso arrives at Stamford Bridge with a glowing reputation in Germany before a difficult homecoming in Spain. He guided Bayer Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023-24, but a sacking at Real Madrid followed less than eight months after he took charge. Chelsea turned to him last month after sacking Liam Rosenior, and he is the fifth permanent appointment under the current ownership.
The 44-year-old inherits a young, expensive squad which has massively underperformed for its huge outlay. Chelsea have not won a domestic trophy for eight years and look likely to miss out on the Champions League, and need him to deliver consistency quickly. So both clubs enter the new campaign with redemption in sight under new, ambitious leadership.