Maresca’s return to Manchester City
Enzo Maresca has been appointed as the new head coach of Manchester City, marking his third tenure with the club. The Italian manager has signed a three-year contract. Maresca previously served as an assistant to Pep Guardiola during the 2022-23 season, a period in which City achieved the Treble. His return follows his departure from Chelsea in January 2026, where he had been head coach.
Maresca described the role as a “huge challenge” and expressed his understanding of the club’s desire to maintain a consistent style of play. He stated that the goal is to continue winning and achieving significant milestones. His appointment comes after Guardiola’s decade-long tenure, during which the club secured 20 trophies.
Alignment with club philosophy
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak highlighted Maresca’s alignment with the club’s philosophy, noting his previous experience within the organization, first with the academy and then as an assistant coach. Al Mubarak commented on Maresca’s evolution of his own coaching philosophy, while still drawing inspiration from Guardiola’s approach. The chairman believes that Maresca’s leadership will see the team continue to strengthen.
Chief Executive Officer Ferran Soriano identified Maresca as the standout candidate for the position, citing his personality, vision for football, integrity, charisma, and passion. Soriano also pointed to Maresca’s successes at Leicester, as well as his distinguished work with City’s Elite Development Squad and his contribution to the Treble-winning season. The club has pledged to provide him with the necessary support for success.
Maresca’s coaching style is influenced by both Italian and Spanish football. His exposure to Guardiola’s Barcelona during his playing career in Spain, particularly at Sevilla and Malaga, shaped his understanding of technical, possession-based football. He also met his assistant, Willy Caballero, in Spain, and Spanish is now the primary language spoken in his home.
Tactical approach and future outlook
Maresca is known for his tactical acumen and his desire for control in matches. His teams typically employ a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on maintaining possession, preventing counter-attacks, and dominating play. This approach shares similarities with Guardiola’s methods, emphasizing physicality in attack to press high and regain possession.
During his time as Guardiola’s assistant, Maresca was an influential figure, contributing to tactical innovations. One notable example was the rebranding of England defender John Stones as a central midfielder, a move that proved crucial in the Champions League final victory against Inter Milan. Gareth Taylor, who worked with Maresca at City’s academy, noted that Maresca brought a different approach, allowing more freedom in team setups compared to previous coaches.
Maresca’s journey to this role includes managing City’s Elite Development Squad in the 2020-21 season, where he won the Premier League 2 title. He then had a brief spell at Parma in Serie B before rejoining City as an assistant coach. Following the Treble season, he was appointed manager of Leicester City in June 2023, before moving to Chelsea in June 2024. He left the club in January 2026.
The club’s players are scheduled to report for pre-season on July 20, with those who participated in the World Cup receiving additional time off.
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Source: bbc.com
