- Enzo Maresca has reportedly agreed to become Chelsea’s manager
- Maresca will sign a five-year deal with the option to extend for another year, which means he could be at Chelsea until 2030
- Alongside Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Enzo Maresca is one of the managers who have previously worked under Pep Guardiola
If you’re a football fan then you must have heard the name Enzo Maresca being mentioned a lot recently. Well, it’s because Maresca is close than anyone else to taking up from where Mauricio Pochettino left at Chelsea.
Pochettino and Chelsea decided to part ways last week on mutual agreement. The Blues search for a new manager began immediately and after being linked with names such as Thomas Frank, Roberto De Zerbi, Sebastian Hoeness and Kieran McKenna, it seems they have finally found the right person to lead the club next season.
News of Enzo Maresca taking over from Pochettino at Chelsea started spreading on Monday evening and it seems the manager is now very close to completing the deal than before.
Enzo Maresca. Photo/ Vanguard News.
According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Maresca has agreed to become Chelsea’s next manager on a five-year deal. The Blues will also have the option to extend the Italian’s contract for another year, which means he could be at Stamford Bridge until 2030.
With Chelsea’s official announcement being the only thing remaining before Maresca starts his new job, here are things you should know about the Italian.
He Led Leicester City Back To The Premier League
Leicester City were relegated to the Championship after the 2022/23 season. However, they secured a return to the English Premier League at the first time of asking, with the mastermind being Enzo Maresca.
Leicester hired Maresca last summer on a three-year deal and despite the club losing top players such as James Maddison and Youri Tielemans due to relegation, the Italian ensured they dominated the Championship and concluded the season with 97 points. The Foxes managed 31 wins, 4 draws, and 11 losses.
Worked Under Pep Guardiola At Manchester City
Alongside Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Enzo Maresca is one of the managers who have previously worked under Pep Guardiola that will be coaching in the Premier League next season. Considering the fact that Guardiola is undoubtedly the best manager in England at the moment, you’ll understand how Maresca helped Leicester secure return to the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca and Pep Guardiola. Photo/ Manchester Evening News.
The Italian started his coaching journey in his home country in 2017 where he worked as the assistant to Ascoli head coach Fulvio Fiorin.
Maresca joined Manchester City in August 2020 as the manager of Elite Development Squad. He led the team to Premier League 2 triumph, attracting the attention of Serie B club Parma who eventually signed him in May 2021.
Despite the team having stars such as Franco Vazquez and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Maresca failed to lead them back to the Serie A. He would eventually part ways with Parma at the end of the season and returned to City where he became one of Guardiola’s assistant managers.
He was at City until Leicester offered him a deal last summer. Maresca is obsessed with possession, just like his mentor Guardiola. The idea of inverted full-backs, total domination of the ball and tiring opponents is what Chelsea fans can expect to see from their team next season.
Enzo Maresca Played For Various Clubs In Europe
Just like many top managers, Maresca was also a player before deciding to pursue a career as head coach. He started his football journey at the youth team of AC Milan and continued with his development at Cagliari before turning pro.
He signed with English club West Bromwich Albion in 1998 and played his first senior match that same year. He returned to Italy in 2000 and signed with Juventus. He won the Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana during his time with the Old Lady.
Enzo Maresca. Photo/ Manchester City FC.
Maresca shared the same dressing room with legendary footballers such as Zinedine Zidane, del Piero, Pavel Nedved, Edgar Davis and David Trezuguet while at Juve. The Italian had a spell at Fiorentina before moving to Sevilla where he won more silverware. With the La Liga side he won Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Enzo Maresca retired in 2017 after a short spell with Hellas Verona then embarked on a managerial career.
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