MANCHESTER, England – Manchester City are on the verge of finalizing an advanced agreement to appoint former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca as the structural successor to Pep Guardiola ahead of the 2026–27 campaign.
Okay News reports that the seismic management transition is shifting into its final stages, with Guardiola expected to officially vacate the Etihad Stadium dugout following Sunday’s final league match against Aston Villa. City’s hierarchy has spent more than six months quietly structuring a post-Pep succession plan, identifying the 46-year-old Italian tactician as the ideal candidate to preserve the club’s deeply rooted footballing identity.
Maresca is intimately steeped in Manchester City’s modern framework, having previously served as Guardiola’s primary assistant during the club’s historic, treble-winning 2022–23 season, alongside a highly successful developmental stint guiding the Elite Development Squad (EDS). After branching out on his own to secure promotion for Leicester City, Maresca moved to Stamford Bridge, where he oversaw an incredibly successful singular campaign—clinching the FIFA Club World Cup, lifting the UEFA Conference League, and locking down a crucial Champions League qualification spot with an expansive, possession-heavy tactical model.
“One of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca… the job he has done at Chelsea does not get enough credit,” Guardiola stated previously, offering a glowing endorsement of his former protégé. Despite his tactical brilliance, Maresca’s tenure in West London imploded abruptly in January due to severe friction with Chelsea’s ownership over recruitment and squad building. While Chelsea are actively demanding a substantial compensation payout to clear his remaining contractual ties, talks brokered by high-profile agent Jorge Mendes are moving rapidly. While stepping into the vacuum left by a manager who delivered 20 major trophies represents one of the most daunting tasks in modern sports history, City’s hierarchy views Maresca as a calculated, continuity-driven bridge into a bold new era.
