Chelsea have confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new manager.
The Italian leaves Leicester after guiding the Foxes to the Championship title and signs a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino after just one season and considered a number of possible replacements before landing on the 44-year-old.
Their shortlist also included Roberto De Zerbi, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank, while Ipswich boss McKenna opted to sign a new deal at Portman Road.
But Maresca was always their number one target.
Maresca said: “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach. It is why I am so excited by this opportunity.
“I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud.”
Maresca’s five-year contract has the option of an extra year and shows a significant amount of faith, given Pochettino was only handed a two-year deal.
It is understood the contract contains a number of undisclosed break clauses which favour Chelsea.
Leicester will receive around £10million in compensation after giving the Blues permission to speak to their manager.
His staff will include former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero, Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Marcos Alvarez, Javi Molina and Roberto Vitiello.
Maresca was hired by Manchester City to become the manager of their development squad in 2020 and coached current Chelsea stars Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia.
He also worked alongside Chelsea chief scout Joe Shields, who was at the Etihad in a similar role.
After a short stint in charge of Parma, Maresca returned to the Etihad as one of Guardiola’s assistants after Juanma Lillo left to become the manager of Al Sadd in Qatar.
Maresca has been praised for his progressive style of football and becomes the latest manager influenced by Guardiola to land a top job, with Mikel Arteta thriving at Arsenal and Vincent Kompany recently appointed by Bayern Munich.
Guardiola said in May 2021: “We are delighted with Enzo Maresca, all the organisation he has done with the EDS [elite development squad], he showed he will become an extraordinary manager in the future. Extraordinary.
“I feel it. Like I felt it when I saw Mikel Arteta I see it with Enzo, [he] will be an extraordinary manager and he helped to develop many, many young players.”
It is understood the Blues also wanted a head coach rather than a manager who wants control over transfers.
Maresca will be joined by five of his backroom staff from Leicester, including ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
He will also work alongside set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva, who was hired from Brentford, after Pochettino expressed reluctance to add a set-piece coach to his dugout.
Pochettino guided Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the 2023/24 campaign and his sacking came as a surprise to many after finishing the season with five impressive wins in a row.
News Summary:
- ‘Extraordinary manager’ Enzo Maresca confirmed as new Chelsea boss on five-year deal
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