Manchester City have officially announced Enzo Maresca as the successor to Pep Guardiola, ending weeks of speculation. The Italian returns to the Etihad Stadium after a turbulent stint at Chelsea, where he was sacked in January following a public dispute with the board.
Guardiola's Final Game and Warning
Guardiola managed his last City match in May 2026, a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa that concluded the 2025/26 Premier League season. The result was overshadowed by celebrations honoring Guardiola's decade-long tenure, which included numerous trophies. After the game, Guardiola addressed his successor directly, urging him to stay true to himself.
"Be yourself. The club will support you unconditionally and that is the biggest compliment and the biggest luck that all managers here have," Guardiola said, referencing Txiki Begiristain, Hugo Viana, Ferran Soriano, and Khaldoon Al Mubarak. "Be yourself. You will be protected in the bad moments more than any other club. Be free with your ideas, work a lot and everything will be fine."
Maresca's Coaching Journey
Maresca first joined Manchester City in August 2020 as manager of the Elite Development Squad, following a brief role as assistant to Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham. He won the Premier League 2 title in his sole season before leaving to manage Parma in Serie B. He returned two years later as Guardiola's assistant, contributing to City's treble-winning campaign in 2022/23.
After leaving City, Maresca became Leicester City manager, guiding the Foxes to promotion to the Premier League in his first season. His success attracted Chelsea, where he led the Blues to a fourth-place finish, the Conference League title, and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, his dismissal in January 2026 followed a falling out with the Chelsea board.
Delayed Announcement and Confirmation
Despite being widely reported as Guardiola's successor, Maresca's appointment was delayed for over a month. The club finally confirmed the decision on June 29, 2026, ending the uncertainty surrounding the managerial transition.
