Pep Guardiola has since 2016 lifted Manchester City to the throne of the Premier League – and stayed there. After the miserable 2024/25 season, there was a lot of speculation that Guardiola would give up. The Spaniard bit his tongue and kept going, although he himself admitted “I would have been fired as Real Madrid coach with those results.” Now the time has come for the already legendary coaches to give up, for Enzo Maresca the perfect timing.
Champions League ticket with 4th place in the Premier League. Conference League title. Title in the Club World Cup, in a championship with several of the best clubs in the world. Then came the exit after some chaotic Christmas celebrations, where there was a clear, ongoing conflict between coach and management. Key players have later stated that it came as a shock that the coach they trusted disappeared. For Maresca, it has proven to be the perfect timing.
The Times claims that Pep Guardiola is taking advantage of a clause in his contract to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, one year early. Previously, the hyperactive transfer journalist Romano has reported that there is only one candidate to replace the world’s best/second best coach.
It’s Enzo Maresca.
According to Romano, all the details are now in place for former Manchester City assistant coach Maresca to return as head coach to a three-year contract.
Now things are happening fast. First Xabi Alonso in as Chelsea coach, then Pep out of City, then former Chelsea coach Maresca into one of the biggest jobs in the football circus. For the Italian with a background at City and the confidence that comes with replacing the one Pep Guardiola, this must be the dream job. Talk about getting to the set table at the very top level!
