- Chelsea have appointed Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on a 5-year contract.
- Maresca, 44, joins from Leicester City, where he led the club to promotion back to the Premier League last season.
- Maresca previously worked as an assistant to Guardiola at Manchester City, helping them achieve treble-winning success.
Newsypeople- Chelsea has confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new head coach, succeeding Mauricio Pochettino who left by mutual consent.
Enzo Maresca, a 44-year-old Italian, joins the club from Leicester City, where he led them back to the Premier League by winning the Championship. He has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year.
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Maresca’s path to Chelsea began with his professional playing career at West Bromwich Albion, followed by stints in Italy, Spain, and Greece. He transitioned into coaching, managing Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad and later becoming Pep Guardiola’s assistant. He took the helm at Leicester City last summer and successfully led them to promotion at the first attempt.
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, led the appointment process, conducting face-to-face discussions with Maresca in Marbella.
The depth of Maresca’s knowledge about Chelsea’s squad and his alignment with the club’s playing philosophy were significant factors in his selection. Maresca’s emphasis on possession and positional play made him an ideal candidate to replace Pochettino, who departed after a sixth-place Premier League finish.
Enzo Maresca backroom staff includes former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero, as well as set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva. The club is expected to be active in the transfer market this summer, with potential signings in the pipeline for a new No. 9 and center-back. The futures of high-earning players like Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga remain uncertain.
Chelsea’s ownership, comprised of Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, has given Maresca a longer contract than Pochettino’s two-year tenure, reflecting their desire for a change in direction after a season marked by turbulence and player dissatisfaction.
Maresca expressed his excitement about joining one of the world’s biggest clubs and his eagerness to work with the talented group of players and staff to build a team that continues Chelsea’s tradition of success and makes the fans proud.
Maresca’s coaching style is influenced by Pep Guardiola, with whom he worked at Manchester City, and he is known for his obsession with patient possession and positional play, favoring a 4-3-3 system.
The Chelsea hierarchy believes his approach will suit the technically gifted squad. Maresca will meet his Chelsea players for the first time when they return for pre-season training in early July and will travel to the USA later that month for five friendlies, including a match against his former club Manchester City on August 3.
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