Maresca’s Return to Manchester City
Enzo Maresca has been appointed as the new manager of Manchester City, signing a three-year contract that extends until summer 2029. This marks Maresca’s third period at the club, bringing with him a background of experience and success. He previously managed City’s elite development squad, leading them to the Premier League 2 title in the 2020-21 season. Maresca also served as part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff during the club’s historic treble-winning season of 2022-23, which included the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
In a statement, Maresca expressed his familiarity with Manchester City, highlighting it as a well-managed club with an innovative and purposeful approach. He noted that this environment provides the consistency needed for effective management and expressed eagerness to begin coaching the players, aiming for wins, good football, and embracing the pressure of representing the club.
Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak believes Maresca’s personality, passion, and intelligence align with the club’s needs. He described Maresca’s return as a natural progression, expecting him to build upon the club’s existing success. CEO Ferran Soriano also commented, stating that Maresca was the clear choice due to his personality, vision for football, integrity, charisma, and passion. Soriano referenced Maresca’s success with Chelsea and Leicester, in addition to his previous contributions at City, and affirmed that Maresca would receive the necessary support to succeed.
Chelsea’s Statement on Former Head Coach
Chelsea FC has issued a club statement addressing the departure of their former Head Coach on 1 January 2026. The club acknowledged that the 2025/26 season was disappointing, largely due to disruptions caused by changes to the Head Coach position over the Christmas period.
According to the statement, in autumn of the previous year, the former Head Coach informed Chelsea of a potential opportunity to succeed Pep Guardiola at the end of the season. The club understood that he 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, the Head Coach unexpectedly resigned. Chelsea stated that they felt let down, believing his focus had shifted to another club and opportunity, despite having joined Chelsea the year prior. Given his decision not to continue his responsibilities, the club accepted his resignation to protect its players, supporters, and its identity.
A confidential settlement, including compensation, has been reached with Manchester City, reflecting mutual respect between the clubs. A separate confidential settlement was also reached with the former Head Coach, under which he will pay compensation. Looking ahead, Chelsea has appointed Xabi Alonso as their new Manager, describing him as a professional with an exceptional football mind and integrity, expected to bring success to the club.
Challenges for Maresca at City
Maresca faces the task of managing Manchester City in the post-Guardiola era. One significant challenge will be to establish his own identity while following a manager who secured 20 titles over a decade. His previous experience includes leading Leicester and winning the Conference League and Club World Cup with Chelsea, defeating Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the latter competition.
The team finished second in the league, seven points behind the champions, after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth in the penultimate game. Maresca’s mission will be to close this gap and ensure the team remains competitive at the critical stages of the season. Maintaining strong form, particularly at the start of his tenure, will be crucial to avoid comparisons to previous managers who struggled after succeeding long-serving figures.
Another area of focus for Maresca will be the midfield. Rodri, a key figure in City’s midfield, has offered mixed messages regarding his future. He sustained a serious knee injury in September 2024, followed by related setbacks, and is working to regain his form. The potential sale of Rodri could allow for the acquisition of a replacement, with Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, a midfielder for England during the World Cup campaign, reportedly on the verge of signing for a bid. Anderson is a player of some experience.
Furthermore, Maresca will need to address scoring options beyond Erling Haaland. While Haaland has been a prolific scorer since his arrival in summer 2022, leading to multiple trophies, the team experienced a trophyless season when his goal tally was lower.
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Source: chelseafc.com
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”