Maresca’s Third City Spell Begins as Guardiola Successor After Chelsea Exit
Enzo Maresca signed a three-year contract to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, returning to the club where he was an assistant, following a contentious mid-season departure from Chelsea.
Manchester City confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on Monday, handing the 46-year-old Italian a contract until the summer of 2029. The appointment ends a five-week wait since Guardiola’s emotional farewell in May, and marks Maresca’s third stint at the Etihad — he previously coached the Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title in 2020/21 and served as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022/23 treble campaign.
Maresca’s return was held up by negotiations with Chelsea, where he had been out of work since resigning on New Year’s Day 2026. Chelsea released a statement minutes after City’s announcement, explaining that Maresca had informed them in autumn 2025 of a possible opportunity to succeed Guardiola and that his “head and heart were focused on another club.” The London club said they felt let down by his abrupt resignation, which they blamed as a major factor in a “hugely disappointing” season that saw them finish 10th under caretaker Liam Rosenior. City paid Chelsea a compensation package reported at £17 million, and Maresca himself reached a confidential settlement with his former employer.
Guardiola departed after a decade in which he collected 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League. His final two seasons, however, brought no league crown — Arsenal won the 2025/26 title by seven points, leaving City second for the second consecutive year. Maresca inherits a squad in transition, with veterans Bernardo Silva and John Stones set to leave, and a core built around Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rodri, Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké.
Maresca, who led Leicester to the Championship title in 2024 and won the Conference League and Club World Cup in his one full season at Chelsea, said he “cannot wait to start coaching the players” and wants his team to “win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.” He has already begun working with sporting director Hugo Viana on transfer plans, with Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson reportedly completing a medical ahead of a £116 million move. City’s players return for pre-season on 20 July, with friendlies in Hong Kong and Seoul before facing Arsenal in the Community Shield on 16 August.
同一则新闻 在别处如何讲述。
2 个编辑群体 · 3 种语言
马雷斯卡的任命被描绘成一种连续性的解决方案，几乎是为了维护瓜迪奥拉的战术和文化遗产而不可避免的选择。分析强调了他在青训营和担任助教的经历，将他塑造成平稳过渡的理想人选。其基调是长期战略举措，而非单纯的替代。
这则消息带着几乎不加掩饰的民族自豪感被接收：一位意大利教练在英格兰最重要的俱乐部之一接过了瓜迪奥拉的衣钵。报道强调了他丰富的经验和顶级赛事的成功，以及他在曼城的第三次任职，将这一选择描绘成对意大利学派价值的认可。这一宣布被视为意大利足球海外形象的积极事件。