Manchester City F.C. have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca as the club’s new head coach following the departure of Pep Guardiola.
The 46-year-old Italian has signed a three-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2029.
Maresca returns to familiar surroundings for his third spell at Manchester City.
He previously served as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s historic treble-winning campaign in 2022/23 and also guided the club’s Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title during the 2020/21 season.
Speaking after his appointment, Maresca expressed his delight at returning to the club.
“Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me.
“City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful.
For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.
“This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands and I know the expectations.
“The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability.
“I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.”
Maresca has been out of work since leaving Chelsea F.C. by mutual consent on New Year’s Day, despite having more than three years remaining on his contract.
During his spell at Chelsea, he guided the club to victory in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, while also leading the Blues to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League.
Maresca succeeds Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of the 2025/26 campaign after a remarkable decade in charge of Manchester City. Under Guardiola’s leadership, City won 17 major trophies, establishing one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.
City finished runners-up to Arsenal F.C. in the 2025/26 Premier League season, marking the first time in Guardiola’s managerial career that he failed to win the league title in consecutive seasons before bringing his tenure to an end.
