Manchester City Appoints Enzo Maresca as New Manager
Manchester City has officially named Enzo Maresca as its new manager, with Chelsea confirming that he will cover the compensation needed for a settlement, permitting his transition to the Etihad Stadium.
The announcement came on Monday, marking Maresca’s appointment as the successor to Josep Guardiola, under a three-year contract.
Shortly after the announcement, Chelsea released a detailed statement, revealing that it had reached an agreement for compensation from both Manchester City and Maresca himself.
In an Instagram post, Maresca expressed his regret over the “chaos” his departure from Chelsea caused in January but conveyed his excitement about joining Manchester City.
A source familiar with the situation informed ESPN that the relationship between City and Chelsea remains amicable. The delay in finalizing Maresca’s signing stemmed from a contractual issue involving the 46-year-old and his previous club.
Chelsea’s statement detailed the events leading to Maresca’s exit, indicating that the club was informed last autumn of his ambition to replace Guardiola at the end of the season. It underscored his strong intent to pursue this opportunity despite a long-term contract which lacked a termination clause.
During his 18-month tenure at Chelsea, which began with a five-year deal in 2024, Maresca led the team to victory in the Conference League and the Club World Cup. He departed Stamford Bridge on January 1, 2026, replaced by Liam Rosenior, who faced termination in April after a disappointing season left Chelsea in 10th place and outside European competition.
Maresca returns to Manchester City for a third season, having previously served as head coach of the Elite Development Team and as Guardiola’s assistant from 2022 to 2023. In his departure announcement, he stated, “Leaving Chelsea allowed me the opportunity to rejoin a club I know well. I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester City.” While he acknowledged the disruption his exit caused at Chelsea, he emphasized that it was not his intention to create turmoil.
