“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.
“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.”
City are understood to have agreed a compensation package with Chelsea to secure Maresca’s services amounting to £17 million (€19.71 million).
Maresca had more than three years remaining on his contract when he left Stamford Bridge in January after a poor run of form and a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s ownership.
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He was immediately installed as favourite to succeed Guardiola when the Spaniard announced he was to leave in the final week of the 2025-26 campaign. Indeed, there had already been speculation linking Maresca with a possible return to City, where he was previously assistant manager, for several months.
However, details over the remainder of his contract needed to be resolved.
Maresca served as Guardiola’s number two during City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season.
As a manager he led Leicester to promotion to the Premier League in 2024 before guiding Chelsea to Conference League and Club World Cup glory the following year.
He faces a tough challenge in following the most successful manager in City’s history, but his previous work under Guardiola and familiarity with the club made him their preferred candidate.
Chelsea displeased
Chelsea meanwhile have put out a statement, voiving their displease at themanner in which Maresca left the club in the middle of last season.
“Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the club and its supporters,” the statement read.
“A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the club was forced to make to the head coach position over the Christmas period. Due to recent developments, we consider that it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why our former head coach left the club on 1 January 2026.
“In Autumn last year, the club was informed by our former head coach that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.
“In December 2025, our head coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.
“No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the badge and accept his resignation.
“In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former head coach under which he will pay compensation.
“Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a Manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity. He has all the attributes to deliver the success the club’s supporters deserve and expect.”
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Manchester City appoint Enzo Maresca as manager on three-year deal
LAST UPDATE | 11 mins ago
MANCHESTER CITY HAVE confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager.
The former Chelsea boss succeeds Pep Guardiola, who won 20 trophies during a glittering 10-year reign before stepping down at the end of last season.
The 46-year-old Italian has signed a three-year contract, ending weeks of speculation.
“Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me,” said Maresca.
“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.
“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.”
City are understood to have agreed a compensation package with Chelsea to secure Maresca’s services amounting to £17 million (€19.71 million).
Maresca had more than three years remaining on his contract when he left Stamford Bridge in January after a poor run of form and a breakdown in his relationship with the club’s ownership.
He was immediately installed as favourite to succeed Guardiola when the Spaniard announced he was to leave in the final week of the 2025-26 campaign. Indeed, there had already been speculation linking Maresca with a possible return to City, where he was previously assistant manager, for several months.
However, details over the remainder of his contract needed to be resolved.
Maresca served as Guardiola’s number two during City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season.
As a manager he led Leicester to promotion to the Premier League in 2024 before guiding Chelsea to Conference League and Club World Cup glory the following year.
He faces a tough challenge in following the most successful manager in City’s history, but his previous work under Guardiola and familiarity with the club made him their preferred candidate.
Chelsea displeased
Chelsea meanwhile have put out a statement, voiving their displease at themanner in which Maresca left the club in the middle of last season.
“Chelsea FC appreciates the 2025/26 season was a hugely disappointing one for the club and its supporters,” the statement read.
“A major contributing factor was the disruption caused as a result of changes that the club was forced to make to the head coach position over the Christmas period. Due to recent developments, we consider that it is important to explain to our supporters what happened and why our former head coach left the club on 1 January 2026.
“In Autumn last year, the club was informed by our former head coach that there might be an opportunity for him to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.
“In December 2025, our head coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned from his position. Obviously, we felt let down as we believed that his head and heart were focused on another club and another opportunity, despite having just arrived at Chelsea the year before.
“No club wants to change its head coach midway through a season. However, in light of his decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities through to the end of the season, the club was left with no choice but to protect our players, our supporters, and the badge and accept his resignation.
“In the circumstances and given the mutual respect between clubs, a confidential settlement has been reached with Manchester City, which includes the payment of compensation. A confidential settlement has also been reached with the former head coach under which he will pay compensation.
“Looking forward to next season, in Xabi Alonso, we have a Manager who has an exceptional football mind and is a professional of the highest integrity. He has all the attributes to deliver the success the club’s supporters deserve and expect.”
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ENZO MARESCA Meet the new boss Soccer