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Manchester City has appointed Enzo Maresca as the successor to Pep Guardiola, signing the Italian coach to a three-year contract. The move follows a compensation settlement between City and Chelsea, where Maresca previously managed.

Maresca, 46, returns to City for his third tenure, having served as an academy coach and later as Guardiola's assistant during the 2022-23 season, a year City achieved a historic Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup treble. He then led Leicester City to the Championship title before moving to Chelsea.

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It became clear to us that it was his strong desire to succeed Guardiola and that he was fully committed to pursuing the opportunity, despite the fact he was under a long-term contract which he had no right to terminate.

His time at Chelsea, from June 2024 to January 2026, saw him win the Club World Cup and Conference League titles. However, his departure was marked by a strained relationship with the club's hierarchy. Chelsea stated that Maresca expressed a strong desire to succeed Guardiola, despite being under a long-term contract.

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It was neither my intention nor my wish... I am ecstatic to be joining City.

Chelsea's statement indicated they "felt let down" by his resignation, acknowledging a "confidential settlement" with City that included compensation. Maresca apologized for any disruption his departure caused. He expressed excitement about joining City, calling it a "brilliant opportunity" and praising the club's "innovative, planned and purposeful" approach.

Maresca inherits the monumental task of following Guardiola, who amassed 17 major trophies during his decade at the Etihad Stadium, including six Premier League titles and City's first Champions League crown. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak highlighted the club's well-run structure as a dream situation for any manager.

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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.