SouthernWorldwide.com – Manchester City is reportedly set to appoint Enzo Maresca as the successor to Pep Guardiola, with the former Chelsea head coach finalizing a three-year contract.
The Premier League champions have moved swiftly to secure their former assistant manager following the confirmation of Guardiola’s departure, aiming to ensure stability at the Etihad Stadium before an official announcement.
The club’s leadership has concluded their search for a new manager after Guardiola’s departure this summer.
According to reports, Maresca has signed a three-year agreement to take over the managerial role at the Etihad.
The Italian tactician, who previously worked as Guardiola’s assistant before managing Leicester City and Chelsea, was immediately identified as the leading candidate to follow in his former mentor’s footsteps.
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Guardiola leaves behind a significant legacy in Manchester, having won 20 trophies during his ten-year tenure, concluding his final season with a domestic cup double.
Offering advice to his incoming successor, the departing Catalan mastermind emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself.
“When the club tells me who it is, of course I will call him,” Guardiola stated. “I will tell him, ‘Be yourself and the club will support you unconditionally’.”
“That is the biggest compliment, or the biggest luck, that all the managers who have been here have had. You will be protected in the bad moments more than any other club. Be yourself, be free, go with your ideas. Work a lot and everything will be fine.”
Maresca will inherit a strong squad that is already undergoing a significant long-term structural evolution.
During the final 18 months of Guardiola’s time at the club, City’s executives actively integrated elite young talents, including the signings of Rayan Cherki, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, and Antoine Semenyo.
The incoming manager will play a crucial role in shaping the club’s recruitment strategy for the upcoming summer as City aims to regain the top-flight title after finishing as runners-up in the 2025-26 season.
Maresca will face the immediate challenge of navigating a demanding summer transfer window to address specific tactical areas within the squad he inherits.
Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest has reportedly emerged as a primary target to strengthen the midfield ahead of pre-season preparations.
Maresca’s initial task will be to manage significant external expectations while implementing his possession-based philosophy, preparing his new team for a demanding multi-competition campaign.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament, hosted across three countries, will conclude with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live across FOX (70 games) and FS1 (34 games), with every match available for live and on-demand streaming on both the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than a third of the tournament, will be aired in prime time across FOX (21 games) and FS1 (19 games).
The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
