Manchester City has officially appointed Enzo Maresca as the club's new manager on a three-year contract, following the departure of Pep Guardiola.
The announcement was made on Monday, June 29, 2026.
The 46-year-old Italian will remain at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2029.
He arrives with a strong coaching and playing background, having won titles across multiple European leagues.
Maresca recently guided Chelsea to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and Europa Conference League titles before stepping down in January.
He previously led Leicester City to a Championship title and won the Premier League 2 with Manchester City's Elite Development Squad in 2021.
Chelsea confirmed that Maresca will pay financial compensation to resolve his early departure from Stamford Bridge, now that his appointment with the current Premier League champions is finalized.
Return to Familiar Grounds
Manchester City highlighted Maresca's prior contributions at the Etihad, notably his role as assistant manager under Guardiola during the Treble-winning campaign in 2023.
This marks his third distinct spell with the organization, having initially joined in 2020.
"Manchester City is delighted to announce the appointment of Enzo Maresca as manager," the club stated in an official release.
"The Italian manager has signed a three-year deal that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2029."
Maresca expressed his enthusiasm about returning to the club.
"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.
The incoming coach apologized for the mid-season disruption caused to his previous team but noted that the circumstances opened a direct pathway back to Manchester.
"My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well," Maresca added.
Influences and Mentors
Reflecting on his career influences, Maresca previously detailed how working under legendary Italian figures Marcello Lippi and Carlo Ancelotti at Juventus shaped his leadership approach.
"In terms of motivation and leadership, Marcello Lippi in my experience was number one," Maresca told mancity. com in 2021.
He noted that Lippi relied on a direct method of guidance. "Only listening, talking, the motivation was top.
And in terms of leadership as well. It was a great experience to work with him," Maresca stated.
Maresca also played under Ancelotti in Turin, drawing parallels between the Real Madrid coach and former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
"In terms of approach, they're different but both are top, top coaches," he commented.
"To be honest, I always compare Carlo Ancelotti with Manuel Pellegrini. Having worked with both of them, in terms of managing a team they're very similar," Maresca said.
Maresca played under Pellegrini at Malaga and later joined his backroom coaching staff at West Ham in 2018.
He credited Pellegrini as the primary influence who motivated him to transition into management.
"Manuel was the person who convinced me to try to become a coach when I decided to finish playing," Maresca revealed.
"I was still working as a player with him and one day during a chat with him he said: 'You know when you finish as a player you should try to become a coach because I think you can be a good coach,'" Maresca recalled.
Maresca also credited outgoing manager Pep Guardiola for shifting his perspective on football tactics.
"I decided to be a manager because of Pep's team, Barcelona years ago," he revealed late last year.
He asserted that Guardiola's innovations changed football across Spain, Germany, and England.
"I think no one can be compared – this is my personal opinion – to that Barcelona, and to Pep.
Because I think they changed football in Spain, where every club was trying to play in that way," Maresca stated.
"And then Pep moved to Germany, and everyone was trying to play in that way in Germany.
The German international team, they won something in those years," he noted.
"I think Pep came in England and many clubs tried to do something similar, and also England in terms of international team," Maresca said.
"So, I don't think anyone can be compared to Pep, because I think in the last 20, 25 years he changed football."
Maresca now takes over as the direct successor tasked with maintaining Manchester City's competitive domestic and European status following Guardiola's multi-year tenure.
