Manchester City have reached a full verbal agreement to appoint Enzo Maresca as their next manager on an initial three-year contract, according to reports from Fabrizio Romano. The 46-year-old Italian will succeed Pep Guardiola, who is set to end his 10-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium this summer despite a contract that runs until June 2027. Maresca, who previously served as Guardiola’s assistant during the 2022-23 treble-winning campaign, is expected to formalise the deal shortly after being identified as the sole serious candidate to lead the club into its post-Guardiola era.
Maresca’s return to Manchester
The appointment represents a strategic return to the tactical principles established over the last decade. Maresca is deeply integrated into the City Football Group’s methodology, having led the club’s U21 side to a Premier League 2 title in 2021 before his stint as first-team assistant. As reported by Bola na Rede, the three-year agreement provides the security Maresca lacked during his recent spell at Chelsea. Despite his departure from Stamford Bridge by mutual consent on 1 January 2026, his stock remained high following a highly successful 2025 where he secured both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. His exit from West London followed a breakdown in relations with the Chelsea hierarchy, but his tactical efficiency in Europe has clearly convinced the City board he is ready for the top job.
Transition amidst structural change
Maresca enters a club in a state of significant administrative flux. He will be the first managerial appointment under new Director of Football Hugo Viana, who replaced long-serving executive Txiki Begiristain earlier this season. This change in leadership coincides with ongoing external pressures, notably the 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations currently facing the club. Guardiola’s departure, confirmed by Al Jazeera following his 20th major trophy win in the 2026 FA Cup final, signals the end of the most successful period in City’s history. Maresca’s familiarity with the existing squad—many of whom were present during the 2023 treble success—is understood to be a primary factor in his selection over other external candidates as the club seeks continuity amidst these wider structural shifts.
Pep Guardiola remained coy on the transition following the FA Cup final, dismissing exit rumours to the press, yet internal moves suggest the succession plan is now finalised.