Manchester City has officially appointed Enzo Maresca as the successor to Pep Guardiola, agreeing to a three-year contract with the Italian head coach. The club will pay approximately £17 million in compensation to Maresca's former club, Chelsea.
Maresca, who has been out of work since his departure from Chelsea on New Year's Day, brings a history with Manchester City, having previously served on the coaching staff. He led the Elite Development Squad in 2020 before rejoining as an assistant to Guardiola in 2022.
"Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me," Maresca stated. "City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively."
He added, "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, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability. I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City."
Chelsea had reportedly demanded compensation from Manchester City, with claims of legal action being considered over Maresca's departure. The Stamford Bridge club was reportedly incensed by allegations that Maresca had been in contact with City while still employed by Chelsea, where he had three and a half years remaining on his contract.
Maresca informed Chelsea of his discussions with City representatives regarding the possibility of succeeding Guardiola, a move that has now materialized. The agreed settlement is believed to be around £17 million.
Maresca's tenure at Chelsea ended in January after a period of poor results and his absence from post-match media duties following a draw with Bournemouth. The club finished 10th in the league standings.
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chester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak welcomed Maresca back, stating, "Enzo is someone who has always sought out opportunities to challenge himself and succeed in his managerial career. He brings a personality, passion and intelligence completely aligned to our needs. He is rejoining an organisation that is entirely in lock-step with his ambition and hunger for achievement and his return to Manchester City is therefore a welcome natural next step for both him and the club."
Al Mubarak added, "Enzo inherits a squad and football organisation perfectly suited to reflect and evolve his brand of football, and we are all very much looking forward to seeing the impact he can have in building further on the club’s success. Welcome home Enzo."
Maresca's appointment comes as Manchester City aims to regain the top spot in English football after missing out on the league title in the previous two seasons. The club is also navigating a legal challenge with the Premier League concerning 115 alleged breaches of financial rules.