Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Enzo
Maresca as the club's new head coach, with the Italian signing a three-year
contract to replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
City reportedly agreed to pay Chelsea more than £17
million (€20 million) in compensation to secure the 46-year-old's services.
Maresca is no stranger to the Premier League
champions, having previously worked as Guardiola's assistant during City's
historic treble-winning campaign in 2022/23. Before that, he guided the club's
Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title during the 2020/21
season.
Speaking after his appointment, Maresca expressed his
excitement about returning to the club.
"Manchester City is a club I know very well, and
the opportunity to manage this team is incredibly exciting," he said.
"It is one of the best-run clubs in world
football. Everything is carefully planned, innovative and focused on success,
which creates the ideal environment for any manager.
"This is my third spell at City, so I understand
the club's culture, expectations and ambitions. I appreciate the confidence the
club has shown in me, and I can't wait to begin working with the players. My
goal is to win trophies, play attractive football and embrace the challenge
that comes with representing Manchester City."
Maresca has been without a managerial role since
leaving Chelsea by mutual consent on New Year's Day, despite still having
three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract.
During his only full season at Stamford Bridge, he
guided Chelsea to UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs while
leading the Blues to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, an improvement
from the club's 10th-place finish the previous season.
He succeeds Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of
the 2025/26 campaign after a remarkable decade in charge. The Spaniard leaves
behind an extraordinary legacy, having won 17 major trophies during one of the
most successful eras in Manchester City's history.
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