Manchester City have officially appointed Enzo Maresca as their new manager, signing him to a three-year contract. Maresca succeeds Pep Guardiola, who he previously served as an assistant. This appointment follows Maresca’s departure from Chelsea, a move that prompted a statement from his former club regarding the circumstances of his exit.
Chelsea’s statement detailed that the club was informed in Autumn 2025 by their then-Head Coach, Maresca, about a potential opportunity to succeed Guardiola. Chelsea indicated that it became clear Maresca had a strong desire to pursue this opportunity, despite being under a long-term contract that he did not have the right to terminate. In December 2025, Maresca resigned unexpectedly and abruptly from his position at Chelsea. The club expressed feeling let down, believing his focus had shifted to another club and opportunity, despite having only joined Chelsea the year before.
Chelsea stated that Maresca’s decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season left them with no choice but to accept his resignation to protect their players, supporters, and the club. A confidential settlement has since been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. Additionally, a confidential settlement was agreed upon with Maresca, under which he will pay compensation to Chelsea.
Maresca’s Coaching Journey and Return to City
Maresca’s coaching career in England has seen him manage for three seasons, first at Leicester City and then at Chelsea. During the 2023-24 season, he led Leicester City to a 1st place finish in the Championship. In the 2024-25 season, Chelsea finished 4th in the Premier League under his guidance. He left Chelsea during the 2025-26 season after Matchday 19, with the club in 5th place in the Premier League.
Before his managerial roles, Maresca spent two seasons as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, playing a significant part in the club’s Treble-winning campaign of 2022-23. During this period, former City academy coach Brian Barry-Murphy noted Maresca’s similarity to Guardiola, highlighting his active presence on the training pitch and his ability to earn players’ respect. Club footage from City’s Champions League final victory over Inter Milan showed Guardiola and Maresca discussing tactical adjustments, underscoring his involvement in key matches.
Manchester City confirmed that confidential conversations took place between their representatives and Maresca in Autumn and Winter 2025, while he was still Chelsea’s Head Coach. These discussions concerned the possibility of him returning to City in a leadership coaching capacity if Guardiola decided to leave. City acknowledged Chelsea’s statement regarding the context of Maresca’s departure and recognised that his mid-season exit was disruptive to Chelsea’s season. Once terms were agreed with Maresca, Manchester City and Chelsea FC reached a mutually agreed settlement for compensation to Chelsea.
Maresca will now be expected to continue the football philosophy established by Guardiola. Guardiola himself previously spoke highly of Maresca, calling him “one of the best managers in the world” and commending his work at Chelsea, including winning the Club World Cup, Conference League, and securing Champions League qualification with a young team.
Looking Ahead for Manchester City and Chelsea
Manchester City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, expressed excitement about Maresca’s return, noting that while Maresca has drawn inspiration from Guardiola’s philosophy, he has also developed his own. Al Mubarak stated that Maresca brings a lot to the club and is eager for the challenge of managing Manchester City.
For Chelsea, Xabi Alonso has been appointed as the new manager. The club described Alonso as having an exceptional football mind and being a professional of the highest integrity, with attributes to deliver success for the supporters. Chelsea’s players are currently enjoying their off-season and are not scheduled to return for pre-season until 20 July.
Manchester City’s pre-season schedule includes a trip to Hong Kong the week after 20 July, where they will play Inter Milan in a friendly on Saturday, 1 August. They will then travel to Seoul, South Korea, for two more friendlies: against the K-League All Stars on 5 August and Atletico Madrid four days later. City will also face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, 16 August, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
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Source: chelseafc.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
