Enzo Maresca has stated he is prepared to return to management this summer, while acknowledging speculation linking him with Manchester City. The 46-year-old Italian left Chelsea by mutual consent on January 1st, following a successful but ultimately strained tenure at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca guided Chelsea to both the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup titles during his debut season in 2025, and secured Champions League qualification for the first time in four years. However, disagreements with the club’s board regarding transfer policy, specifically the failure to secure a replacement for the injured Levi Colwill, led to his departure after initiating discussions with Juventus and Manchester City, according to reports at the time.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Maresca emphasized his desire to resume his managerial career. “I feel ready for the next chapter, that is the most important thing,” he said, as reported by Football Italia. When directly questioned about a potential return to the Etihad Stadium, Maresca remained non-committal, stating, “What matters, regardless of the club, is being ready. There are only a few weeks left until the end of the season, then we’ll see what happens.”
Prior to his time at Chelsea, Maresca enjoyed a successful spell with Leicester City, leading them to the Championship title in 2024. He previously served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager at Manchester City during their treble-winning 2022-23 season, making him a natural candidate to replace Guardiola should the current City manager decide to step down. Throughout his senior managerial career, Maresca has maintained a win rate of 60%, further bolstering his credentials. A move to Manchester City is widely anticipated if Guardiola were to leave this summer, positioning Maresca as the clear frontrunner for the position.
