Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca among candidates to become manager at rival PL giants: Reports

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has reportedly emerged as a top candidate in Manchester City’s managerial options if Pep Guardiola decides to leave the club next summer.

According to The Athletic, Enzo Maresca is ‘high among the candidates’ Manchester City are considering in case Pep Guardiola leaves the Etihad Stadium next summer. The report added that there is a growing anticipation that Guardiola will leave City this summer and a firm decision will likely be made towards the end of the campaign.

It is said that City are wary of what the future holds and are now making contingency plans in the event of Guardiola’s potential departure.

Maresca is not a stranger at City, having previously taken charge of the Under-21s in the 2020-21 campaign. He left for Parma the following campaign and returned in the 2022-23 campaign to work as Guardiola’s assistant.

The Italian then went to Leicester City and guided the club back to the English top flight before joining Chelsea, where he currently is. So far, Maresca has impressed at Stamford Bridge, having won the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup. His side currently sits fourth in the Premier League table, six points behind City and eight behind leaders Arsenal.

Guardiola’s current deal with City will run out in June 2027, thanks to a contract extension signed in November 2024. Maresca, meanwhile, is contracted with Chelsea until 2029 and has managed 89 matches so far at the west London club.

“His work at Chelsea has not been properly appreciated” – Manchester City's Pep Guardiola has high praise for Enzo Maresca

Maresca has established himself as one of the best young coaches in the world and couldn’t have gotten higher praise than one from Pep Guardiola. Earlier this month, ahead of Manchester City’s game against Sunderland, Guardiola was asked about his former protégé Maresca, to which he responded:

“He is one of the best coaches in the world. His work at Chelsea has not been properly appreciated. To compete in the Club World Cup, the Conference League, Champions League qualification, in this league—it's very tough. It's a young team, and the way he develops every player—he's exceptional. And then you go to Elland Road, and look what happened! It's really, really tough!”

Both managers have faced each other twice in the Premier League, with Guardiola edging both contests.