«Manchester City» officially appointed Enzo Maresca as head coach. But the deal itself is merely the final point in a story that began back in autumn 2025 and cost the club more than most midfielder transfers.
How Maresca left Chelsea: chronology of the split
According to Sky Sports, as early as autumn 2025, Maresca informed Chelsea's management that he could receive an offer to become Pep Guardiola's successor. In December, he resigned — mid-season, with a valid contract until 2030 with no release clause.
«In December 2025, our head coach unexpectedly and abruptly resigned. We felt betrayed because we believed his thoughts and heart were directed towards another club»
— official Chelsea statement
Chelsea agreed to a confidential settlement with Manchester City and Maresca personally. According to Sky Sports, the total compensation exceeded £17 million — money that was not in the contract but had to be paid due to reputational and legal pressure.
Why Maresca specifically — and why he's «one of their own»
The 46-year-old Italian is no stranger to the club. According to OneFootball, he already worked in City's academy, and in the 2023 season was part of Guardiola's coaching staff during the triumphant «treble». Additionally, he won Premier League 2 with the club's youth team in 2020/21.
Maresca himself, in an address to supporters, wrote on Instagram that his decision to leave Chelsea was entirely his own and apologized to the London club. «Manchester City is a club I know very well,» OneFootball quotes him as saying, «and the opportunity to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me».
Guardiola's legacy — and what remains of it
Guardiola left after more than nine years and six Premier League titles. Maresca receives not just a team — he receives a system: an analytical apparatus, a developed academy, and the expectation that this model will continue to work without its architect.
- Contract: until summer 2029 (3 years)
- Chelsea compensation: over £17 million
- Previous experience at City: academy + treble-winning season 2023 staff
- Last job: Chelsea (Premier League, 2024–2025)
The real test won't come in the transfer market — it will come when City loses a series of matches for the first time and the question arises: is this a crisis of the system or a crisis of the coach?
