Enzo Maresca has been confirmed as Manchester City's new head coach on a three-year deal, returning to the club after a compensation dispute with his former employers Chelsea delayed his appointment. The 46-year-old Italian succeeds Pep Guardiola, who stepped down in May after a trophy-laden 10 years in charge that yielded 20 trophies. Maresca, who served as Guardiola's assistant during City's Treble-winning 2022-23 campaign, called the job a "huge challenge".
The appointment was held up by talks between Chelsea and City over a compensation package. One source has told BBC Sport that Manchester City are paying Chelsea about £17m. Chelsea say they have reached a confidential agreement with Maresca over compensation due to be paid to the club; that package is separate to the one between the clubs and BBC Sport is yet to verify the details.
“Enzo Maresca signs three-year Manchester City deal after Chelsea compensation dispute, with City paying about £17m.”
Maresca left Chelsea in January following a run of one win in seven Premier League matches. Chelsea's statement at the time suggested the decision was mutual, but Maresca has now confirmed that he handed in his resignation and acknowledged that it "opened a path" for him to join City. In an Instagram post, he wrote: "The decision was only mine. I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish."
Chelsea described his resignation as a "decision not to continue fulfilling his responsibilities". His departure proved damaging to Chelsea's season, contributing to a chaotic campaign in which they finished 10th, sacked another manager, and cost the club millions in lost television revenue. It led to a prolonged legal dispute that has only recently been resolved.
Maresca is part Italian, part Spanish in his coaching approach, an influence that stems from his family and his exposure to Guardiola's Barcelona while playing for Sevilla and Malaga. In Spain he met his trusted assistant Willy Caballero. Manuel Pellegrini, his "football father" and former Manchester City manager, identified during Maresca's playing days that he had the qualities to become a coach. Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak 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."
Guardiola had previously described Maresca as "one of the best managers in the world". For Chelsea, Maresca's first season remains their most successful under owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, having qualified for the Champions League for the only time in four years since acquiring the club. But his abrupt exit left a bitter legacy that cost the club dearly.