2nd July 2026
By Joseph Armstrong-Gardner
Image Credit: Getty Images
After 3 years away, Enzo Maresca has returned to Manchester City, but this time as their head coach.
Maresca, who formerly was Pep Guardiola’s assistant during City’s Treble-winning 2022-2023 campaign, has signed a 3-year deal to be Guardiola’s successor.
Maresca’s appointment emphasises his rapid rise in management, having only secured his first head role in 2021.
Enzo Maresca now faces the monumental assignment of living up to the success of the great Pep Guardiola, who won 20 trophies in his 10 years at Manchester City.
Maresca has called the job a “huge challenge,” but certainly one he’s ready to face.
“Probably the reason why I am here is also that the idea from the club is to maintain the same style of football, the same idea,” he said.
“And we are going to try to do the most important thing in football, which is to try to win, to achieve important things. Then the day-by-day is also going to dictate the way I will work.”
Guardiola had previously described Maresca as “one of the best managers in the world,” but what has convinced the club’s hierarchy?
During his managerial spell with Chelsea, Maresca masterminded a Club World Cup win over PSG and even a statement 3-0 win over Spanish giants Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Image Credit: Getty Images
Facing a Barcelona side regarded by some as the greatest club team of all time opened Maresca’s eyes to a new way of playing and helped spark the trend for technical, possession-based teams dominating at the highest level.
In Spain, Maresca also met his trusted assistant, Willy Caballero, and his children were born there. Spanish is now the main language spoken at home within his large family.
It was also his “football father”, former Man City and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, who identified during Maresca’s playing days that he had the qualities to become a coach.
This grounding helps explain the similarities between Maresca and Guardiola.