Enzo Maresca appointed Manchester City manager on three-year deal to succeed Guardiola

Manchester City have appointed Enzo Maresca as their new manager on a three-year deal, ending a prolonged search to replace Pep Guardiola following the Catalan’s departure after a decade at the club.

The 46-year-old Italian had been out of work since leaving Chelsea in January, deliberately keeping himself off the market while City negotiated a compensation package with his former club. An eight-figure sum was eventually agreed, clearing the way for Maresca to officially begin work at the Etihad Stadium.

CEO Ferran Soriano described Maresca as the “standout candidate” in the club’s search, pointing to both his managerial record and his existing familiarity with the organisation. “We know his personality and his vision for the way football should be played,” Soriano said. “He managed our EDS team with distinction and was a key contributor to the historic Treble season. We will ensure that he receives everything he needs to be successful here.”

Maresca’s ties to City run deep. He managed the club’s Under-21 side during the 2020/21 season before returning as Guardiola’s first-team assistant for the 2022/23 campaign — the year City won the Treble. He subsequently built an independent managerial CV, winning promotion from the Championship with Leicester City and then delivering the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea.

Speaking on his appointment, Maresca acknowledged the weight of the role. “Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me,” he said. “This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands and I know the expectations. The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special.”

City had hoped to confirm the appointment earlier in the summer, but negotiations with Chelsea over compensation delayed the announcement. With the 2026 World Cup set to disrupt pre-season preparations, the club will be eager to give Maresca as much time as possible to put his stamp on the squad.