Who is Enzo Maresca? The coach tipped to replace Pep Guardiola at Man City
By William Muthama, May 19, 2026As Pep Guardiola’s 10-year tenure at Manchester City comes to an end, speculation about his future continues to grow.
Replacing him will be a major challenge for the club, given that he is widely regarded as one of the most successful coaches in Premier League history, having won multiple league titles and transformed Manchester City into a dominant force in English and European football.
Against this backdrop, one name continues to stand out as the leading candidate to take over: Enzo Maresca, who is said to be on the verge of returning to the Etihad as head coach, according to top transfer sources including Fabrizio Romano and multiple reports.
“Pep Guardiola has informed Manchester City that he will leave the club this summer. Decision confirmed and official statement to follow as Pep will say goodbye to Man City fans very soon. Only one name to replace Pep: Enzo Maresca,” Fabrizio Romano tweeted on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Who Is Enzo Maresca?
Born on 10 February 1980 in Pontecagnano Faiano, Italy, Enzo Maresca is a 46-year-old former midfielder turned coach.
During his playing career, he featured for clubs including Juventus and Sevilla, where he won the UEFA Cup, as well as a spell in England with West Bromwich Albion.
He retired from professional football in 2017 before moving into coaching.
Maresca joined Manchester City in 2020 as head coach of the Elite Development Squad (EDS), where he quickly made an impact by guiding the team to success in Premier League 2.
His progress earned him a promotion in 2022 to Guardiola’s first-team coaching staff, where he worked as one of the assistant coaches, helping with training, tactics, and player development during City’s treble-winning season.
Rapid rise as a head coach
After leaving Manchester City in 2023, Maresca quickly established himself as a promising manager.
At Leicester City (2023–2024), he was tasked with returning the club to the Premier League following relegation.
He delivered immediately, winning the Championship title with a record 97 points and earning praise for his possession-based, attacking style inspired by Guardiola.
In 2024, Maresca took charge of Chelsea on a long-term deal. Despite mixed Premier League results, he guided the club to silverware by winning the UEFA Conference League and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. However, inconsistent form and reported tensions with the club hierarchy led to his departure in January 2026.
Why Manchester City are interested
Manchester City’s hierarchy, led by incoming sporting director Hugo Viana, according to Fabrizio Romano, sees Maresca as the ideal candidate for continuity.
His deep understanding of City’s playing philosophy, recruitment structure, and squad gives him a strong advantage.
He is also highly regarded for his tactical intelligence, ability to develop players, and commitment to a possession-based system similar to Guardiola’s. Pep Guardiola himself has previously praised Maresca’s coaching ability.
Reports from Fabrizio suggest an agreement in principle could already be in place for Maresca to take over if Guardiola departs, with a potential contract running until 2028 and an option for a further year.