Manchester City have officially named Enzo Maresca as their new manager, tasking him with the formidable challenge of succeeding Pep Guardiola after a decade of unprecedented success.
The club has opted for a familiar face, turning to Guardiola’s former assistant to usher in a new era, and here he has fared at his previous clubs…
Chelsea
Maresca’s most recent high-profile role was at Chelsea, where he took the helm after guiding Leicester to promotion from the Championship.
Under the BlueCo ownership, he delivered immediate success, securing both the Conference League and the Club World Cup in his first season.
He also guided the team to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, ensuring Champions League qualification for the first time in three years, a competition they had featured in for 18 of the 19 seasons prior to that absence.
His second season proved more challenging, with his departure on New Year’s Day leaving the club fifth in the league table, though they subsequently slid to tenth under his short-lived successor Liam Rosenior and interim boss Calum McFarlane.
During his tenure, Maresca oversaw 55 wins from 92 matches (59.8 per cent), alongside 16 draws and 21 defeats, with his sides scoring 191 goals and conceding 98. Notable streaks included eight consecutive victories in late 2024 and 14 wins from 16 games to conclude the 2024-25 season, culminating in the Club World Cup triumph.
Leicester City
Prior to his spell at Stamford Bridge, Maresca made a significant impact in English football with Leicester City.
He led the Foxes to Championship glory and immediate promotion back to the Premier League, achieving 31 wins from 46 league games and finishing with 97 points, just one ahead of second-placed Ipswich.
His side spent all but three matchweeks from late September onwards at the top of the table, also reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals. His overall win rate at Leicester stood at an impressive 68 per cent.
Parma
His managerial journey began with a brief, less successful stint at Parma in his native Italy, where he managed just four wins in 14 games before his dismissal in November 2021.
Overall record
Across all three clubs, Maresca boasts an overall record of 95 wins, 25 draws, and 39 losses from 159 matches, yielding a win ratio of 59.7 per cent.
His trophy cabinet includes the Championship with Leicester, and the Conference League and Club World Cup from his time at Chelsea.
He also earned two Premier League Manager of the Month awards and four Championship equivalents. His teams have consistently scored, averaging 1.96 goals per game, while conceding 1.06.
Man City connection
Maresca’s ties to Manchester City run deep. He previously led the club’s elite development squad, winning Premier League 2 in 2020-21.
His connection was further solidified when he returned as Pep Guardiola’s assistant for the historic 2022-23 season, a campaign that saw City clinch a memorable treble – the Premier League, FA Cup, and their inaugural Champions League title – with Erling Haaland setting new scoring records.
This intimate knowledge of the club’s philosophy and structure positions him uniquely for the top job.
