The Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City is officially over, and his replacement is someone who learned the craft sitting right next to him. Enzo Maresca has been confirmed as the new head coach of Manchester City on a three-year contract starting from the 2026-27 season.
The appointment completes a succession plan that had been telegraphed for weeks, with City paying Chelsea compensation in the region of €20 million to pry Maresca from Stamford Bridge.
The full circle moment
Maresca’s connection to City runs deeper than a simple coaching hire. He served as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 season, the campaign that ended with City lifting the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League to complete a historic treble.
He also previously led City’s Elite Development Squad, giving him an intimate understanding of the club’s youth pipeline and internal culture.
