Maresca set to bring six new backroom staff to City as Guardiola era ends

Enzo Maresca is poised to reshape Manchester City’s backroom staff ahead of his first pre-season as head coach, with six new appointments expected to be confirmed before the squad returns on 20 July.

Maresca, who previously served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City before managing Leicester and Chelsea, signed a three-year deal at the Etihad Stadium earlier this week. His arrival brings a near-complete overhaul of the coaching setup, after Manel Estiarte, Lorenzo Buenaventura, Xabi Mancisidor, Pep Lijnders, and Kolo Toure all departed alongside Guardiola. Set-piece coach James French, who joined from Liverpool last summer, is the one holdover from the previous regime.

Roberto Vitiello is the first name expected to join Maresca’s staff. The pair played together at Palermo and have since worked together at both Chelsea and Leicester, making Vitiello one of the Italian’s most trusted allies.

Former City goalkeeper Willy Caballero is also set to return to the Etihad in a coaching capacity. Caballero made 48 appearances for the club and shared a dressing room with Maresca during their time together at Malaga.

Danny Walker is another familiar face in the frame. Walker worked with Maresca during the latter’s spell with City’s academy and was subsequently brought on board at Chelsea and Leicester, suggesting he could complete a full-circle return to Manchester.

Goalkeeper coach Michele De Bernardin and fitness coach Marcos Alvarez both first linked up with Maresca at Parma, while analyst Javier Molina Caballero also worked with him there before following him to Chelsea and Leicester. All six candidates are currently without a club after Maresca left Chelsea in January, leaving them free to join immediately.

City’s players not involved at the World Cup are due to report for pre-season on Monday, 20 July, giving Maresca a narrow window to finalise his staff and begin preparations for the new Premier League campaign.