Manchester City have appointed former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as their new manager. The Italian has signed a three-year deal to replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.

City will pay Chelsea more than £17 million (€20 million) in compensation, according to Sky in Italy. Maresca left Chelsea by mutual consent on New Year’s Day. However, he still had three and a half years left on his contract.

Return to familiar ground

The 46-year-old returns to City for a third spell. He led the club’s Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title in 2020/21. He later served as Guardiola’s assistant during City’s historic treble-winning season in 2022/23.

Speaking after his appointment, Maresca said: “Manchester City is a club I know very well, and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me.

“City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.

“This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands, and I know the expectations.

“The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability.

“I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.”

Strong record at Chelsea

Maresca enjoyed success during his time at Chelsea. He guided the Blues to the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup titles. He also led the club to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League before leaving in January.

Guardiola stepped down after 10 years in charge. During his time at City, he won 17 major trophies. The club, however, missed out on the 2025/26 Premier League title to Arsenal. It was the first time Guardiola failed to win the league in back-to-back seasons during his managerial career