Enzo Maresca has officially stepped into his role as the manager of Manchester City, marking the beginning of a high-profile tenure following the departure of Pep Guardiola. At 46, the Italian coach takes the reins after Guardiola concluded a highly successful 10-year period at the Etihad Stadium, during which the club secured 20 trophies.
Addressing reporters during his inaugural press conference, Maresca expressed his admiration for his predecessor, stating, "I've said many times that I consider Pep probably the best coach in the world in the last 20, 25 years. But again, it's a challenge. It's nice. It's a privilege." The new manager acknowledged the historical difficulty clubs face when succeeding long-term, successful leaders, citing the transitions at Manchester United following Sir Alex Ferguson and at Arsenal after Arsene Wenger as cautionary examples. "The history of following the manager with many years in the same club always struggled a little bit after Sir Alex, after Arsene," Maresca noted. "It's a challenge to try to do the right things immediately for this organisation, for the fans, for everyone."
Despite these challenges, Maresca remains optimistic, pointing to the club's robust organizational structure as a key asset. He highlighted that City has employed only three managers in the last 17 years, a rarity in modern football that he believes provides a strong foundation for his own work. Maresca is no stranger to the club, having previously coached the elite development squad and served as an assistant to Guardiola during the 2022/23 treble-winning campaign.
Regarding the current squad, Maresca expects midfielder Rodri to remain with the team despite speculation linking the 30-year-old Spaniard to Real Madrid. Rodri is entering the final year of his contract and is set to undergo back surgery on Monday. "We have to say that around big players there is always speculation," Maresca said. "I'm not worried about that. I think it's normal. Because they won the World Cup, and he was the best player or one of the best players, I think every manager wants to have Rodri. But now surgery on Monday, and he needs holiday. He needs to rest. He needs to recover and then he will be back here with us."
Maresca also addressed his departure from Chelsea, which occurred amid reports of his impending move to Manchester City. While acknowledging that Chelsea was unhappy with the timing of his exit, he expressed gratitude for his time at both Chelsea and Leicester. "I feel quite lucky in terms of my former clubs Leicester, Chelsea. I think we did a great job," he said. "In both clubs, the identity of the team was clear, the success of the team was clear, and I feel very lucky to be part of these clubs. But now we are here. That is the most important thing, just about City. Nothing to add."
The appointment follows a busy period for the club, which recently completed the signing of England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported £116 million ($154 million).
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