Postpublished at 15:47 BST 29 June
Despite the comparisons, Enzo Maresca's teams under his management were not a simple copy and paste of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola...
Summary
Manchester City appoint Enzo Maresca as their new manager on a three-year contract to succeed Pep Guardiola
Chelsea say Maresca will pay them an undisclosed amount of compensation
City confirm conversations took place between them and Maresca while he was still Chelsea head coach
His former club also released a statement saying "it became clear it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola" and they "felt let down" by his departure
Maresca released a statement apologising for any disruption his Chelsea exit caused
Maresca will now be expected to continue the philosophy of Guardiola, writes the BBC's Shamoon Hafez
Send us your views
Postpublished at 15:47 BST 29 June
Get involved - 'Very underwhelming appointment'published at 15:46 BST 29 June
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As a City fan, very underwhelming appointment. Not happy that it helps Chelsea out financially either.
Adam, Manchester
Maresca's league finishes in English footballpublished at 15:45 BST 29 June
Since flying the Etihad nest, Enzo Maresca has started three seasons of management in England - at Leicester City and then Chelsea.
Here are the league positions of Maresca's sides, either at the end of each season or when he left:
2023-24: Leicester City - 1st in Championship
2024-25: Chelsea - 4th in Premier League
2025-26: Chelsea - 5th in Premier League (left the club after Matchday 19)
Image source, Getty ImagesGuardiola's trusted lieutenantpublished at 15:42 BST 29 June
Mohamed Moallim
BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca during Man City training in 2022
Enzo Maresca spent two seasons as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, playing a key role in the club’s Treble-winning campaign of 2022-23.
Former City academy coach Brian Barry-Murphy later told Sky Sports that Maresca was “very similar to Pep”, describing him as an active presence on the training pitch whose coaching quickly earned the respect of the players.
Club footage from City’s Champions League final victory over Inter Milan also showed Guardiola and Maresca discussing tactical adjustments together at half-time, highlighting the Italian’s involvement in preparing one of the biggest matches in the club’s history.
Only Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Rico Lewis, Rodri, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland remain from the Treble-winning squad Maresca worked alongside before leaving to become Leicester City manager.
Get involved - 'Successful cloning'published at 15:40 BST 29 June
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If the fairly successful cloning of his facial features to look like Guardiola can also be repeated in his coaching methods, then yes Maresca should do OK at City.
Andrew
Postpublished at 15:38 BST 29 June
For some of those players returning to the Etihad campus, it will give them the chance to speak with the new Manchester City manager for the first time.
For a handful of others, it will be more of a reunion - Enzo Maresca was Pep Guardiola's assistant coach at Manchester City between June 2022 and 2023, when they won the Treble.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesMaresca has three weeks before Man City players start to returnpublished at 15:35 BST 29 June
Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporterManchester City players are enjoying some down time in the off-season and are not scheduled to return for pre-season until 20 July.
The club and new manager Enzo Maresca fly to Hong Kong the following week where they will play Inter Milan in a friendly on Saturday, 1 August.
They then head to Seoul in South Korea where they have two further friendlies planned against the K-League All Stars on 5 August and Atletico Madrid four days later.
City play Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, 16 August at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Postpublished at 15:34 BST 29 June
Now Enzo Maresca is finally in position at Manchester City, what will the next month or so hold?
Get involved - 'Looks like Slot filling in after Klopp'published at 15:31 BST 29 June
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This very much looks like what happened with Slot filling in after Klopp. Good appointment. Will last a while but not for long enough. Guess none of such managers are left anyways.
Jack
Sure Enzo Maresca would take Arne Slot's first-season bounce, at least.
Maresca's managerial influencespublished at 15:29 BST 29 June
Aside from working closely with Pep Guardiola, Maresca has played for some big-name managers.
Most notably, he played under current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti and former Italy coach Marcelo Lippi at Juventus.
Maresca also played for former Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga, who was, and still is, in charge of Real Betis - the team Maresca's Chelsea beat in the Conference League final.
Image source, Getty ImagesGet involved - 'Always assumed he was 'sent' to us to get experience'published at 15:25 BST 29 June
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As a Leicester fan, I always assumed that he was "sent" to us to get a few years experience in the main seat before returning to replace Guardiola. The only thing I didn't expect was a little sojourn at Chelsea.
Steve
Image source, Getty Images'Be himself' - Guardiola's message to next managerpublished at 15:23 BST 29 June
Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporterDuring his final pre-match news conference last month, then Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was asked to give some words of advice to his successor.
"Be themselves," said the Spaniard. "A manager has to be himself. Unique.
"The club will be there to support him unconditionally. Like they have done it to me, they will do it to him and his staff."
Pep's left him a young team with plenty to go at - Gary Nevillepublished at 15:21 BST 29 June
Gary Neville
Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports NewsIf he [Enzo Maresca] can get the buy-in from the squad, he's got a really good chance of doing something. I don't think Pep's left him with an ageing team, I think he's left him with a young team with plenty to go at.
Image source, Getty ImagesGet involved - 'What could possibly go wrong?'published at 15:17 BST 29 June
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An obscenely successful, era-defining manager, virtually hand-picking his own successor at a Manchester-based club. What could possibly go wrong?
Ray, Leeds
What do Man City fans make of Maresca?published at 15:13 BST 29 June
BBC Sport asked Manchester City fans how they felt about the appointment of Enzo Maresca as the club's new manager.
Media caption, What do Manchester City fans think about Maresca?
Man City statement on 'confidential conversations' & compensationpublished at 15:09 BST 29 June
Enzo Maresca has long been regarded by the club as a candidate within our succession planning. As a former successful coach within our system, Enzo has a strong relationship with the Club’s leadership and he understands how we work and evolve.
We can confirm that confidential conversations took place between select representatives of City and Enzo Maresca in Autumn and Winter of 2025, while he was Chelsea FC’s Head Coach, regarding the possibility of him returning to City in a transitional leadership coaching capacity should Pep Guardiola decide to leave.
We acknowledge Chelsea’s statement regarding the context of Enzo’s departure from Chelsea. We also acknowledge the context in which permission for discussions was given, and we recognize that his departure mid-season was disruptive to Chelsea’s season.
Once terms were agreed with Enzo Maresca, Manchester City and Chelsea FC reached a mutually agreed settlement under which Chelsea FC will receive compensation.
Get involved - 'Maresca will struggle to adjust to the demands'published at 15:07 BST 29 June
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Top 5 and a domestic cup run would be a huge success for City. A few fallow years for the big trophies I fear as Maresca will struggle to adjust to the demands of a team expected to win major titles.
Greg, Manchester
Funny how so many are now saying Pep can't be replaced and Maresca will fail. When Pep was in post the narrative was that the City job was easy due to unlimited funds and a world-class squad. Make your minds up which one is it?
Graham, Manchester
Thumbs up if you are with Greg, thumbs down if you agree with Graham. Like a virtual arm wrestle...
Maresca's arrival photospublished at 15:05 BST 29 June
The new boss is in town.
Image source, Manchester City
Image source, Manchester City
Image source, Manchester City
Image source, Manchester CityMaresca will embrace Man City challenge - Khaldoonpublished at 15:01 BST 29 June
Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporterManchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has been open and honest in his assessment of Enzo Maresca, with the Italian returning to the club following two previous stints - firs with the academy and then alongside Pep Guardiola as his assistant coach.
Khaldoon said: “He is one of Pep’s assistants at one point in his career so definitely - he will tell you - he is going to have taken a lot of inspiration in the philosophy of Pep, and you see that in his football.
"But he has also evolved his own philosophy. I think Enzo brings a lot to this club. Honestly, I am very excited about Enzo and I think the fans will appreciate him as a manager, his football philosophy, his football and how the team is going to perform and go from strength to strength with Maresca’s leadership.
"I think it will be a great addition to the team. This is a big challenge - this scares off many people. The beauty with Enzo is he actually wants that challenge, he loves that challenge.”
'One of the best managers in the world, Maresca' - Guardiolapublished at 15:00 BST 29 June
Image source, Getty ImagesPep Guardiola has previously said about Enzo Maresca: "One of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca, I know him quite well, but the job he has done at Chelsea does not get enough credit.
"Winning the Club World Cup, Conference League, qualification for the Champions League in a league that is so tough with a young team. It is exceptional.
"I recognised his Chelsea team from day one, even when we played them in the summer camp in the States.
"Many things I started to see that we spoke about many, many times in the last years together. Really good.
"I'm very pleased. I was a lucky man to work with him in the last years, and everything that happens with his family and him being fine, then I'm fine. I'm happy for him."
