Manchester City’s New Manager: Enzo Maresca — What Happened and Why?

What’s the Big News?

Manchester City have officially announced Enzo Maresca as their brand-new manager! He’s signed a three-year deal to take over at the Etihad Stadium. Maresca will be stepping into some very big shoes — replacing the legendary Pep Guardiola.

The announcement came on Monday, and it’s been a pretty dramatic story with some twists, turns, and a bit of payback involved. Let us break it all down for you!

How Did Maresca End Up Back at Manchester City?

Here’s the Step-by-Step Story

1. Maresca was at Chelsea. He joined Chelsea in 2024 on a five-year contract and did a great job — winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup during his 18 months there.

2. He heard about the Manchester City opportunity. Back in Autumn 2025, Maresca told Chelsea that there might be a chance for him to succeed Pep Guardiola as Manchester City’s manager when the season ended.

3. Chelsea wanted him to stay, but he was determined. Chelsea said it was clear Maresca really, really wanted the City job. The problem? He was still under contract with Chelsea and didn’t technically have the right to leave early.

4. In December 2025, Maresca surprised everyone and resigned. He quit Chelsea mid-season, which caught the club off guard. His last day was January 1, 2026.

5. Liam Rosenior took over Chelsea as the new head coach, but things didn’t go well. Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League — a really poor result that meant they missed out on European competition qualification. Rosenior was sacked in April.

6. Maresca is now back at Manchester City for his third time at the club. He previously worked there as head coach of the Elite Development Squad and as Guardiola’s first-team assistant between 2022 and 2023.

Who Paid What? The Compensation Drama

This is where it got spicy. Chelsea released a detailed statement explaining what happened behind the scenes:

• Chelsea reached a confidential settlement (a private agreement) with Manchester City, which included compensation payments from City.

• Chelsea also reached a separate confidential settlement with Maresca himself — meaning Maresca personally had to pay compensation to Chelsea too.

• The reason the announcement was delayed? Sources close to City told ESPN that it was because of the contractual disagreement between Maresca and Chelsea over the terms of his departure.

Important Point: Both Manchester City and Enzo Maresca personally paid money to Chelsea as part of the settlement. This is unusual — it’s not every day that a manager has to reach into their own pocket to leave a club!

What Does Maresca Say?

Maresca posted a statement on Instagram addressing everything:

• He apologized to Chelsea for the "disruption" he caused by leaving in the middle of the season.
• He said it was never his intention to cause problems for the club.
• He called the decision to leave a "difficult" one but said it was entirely his own choice.
• He’s "ecstatic" to be joining Manchester City — a club he already knows very well from his two previous stints there.
• His resignation from Chelsea, he says, opened the door for him to return to City.

How Do Chelsea and City Feel Now?

Despite all the back-and-forth, sources close to Manchester City told ESPN that the relationship between the two clubs remains good. The delay in announcing Maresca wasn’t about bad blood — it was simply about working out the legal and financial details of his departure from Chelsea.

Summary

Here’s the quick and easy recap:

• Enzo Maresca is the new manager of Manchester City, signing a three-year deal to replace Pep Guardiola.
• He resigned from Chelsea in December 2025, mid-season, despite having a long-term contract.
• Chelsea and Manchester City reached a settlement where City paid compensation to Chelsea.
• Maresca also personally paid compensation to Chelsea as part of a separate agreement.
• Maresca apologized for the disruption his departure caused at Chelsea.
• He has worked at City before (as a youth coach and assistant to Guardiola), so he’s coming home.
• The relationship between Chelsea and City is still positive despite the drama.

FAQ

Q: Why did Maresca leave Chelsea if he was under contract?
A: He wanted to manage Manchester City — the job of succeeding Pep Guardiola. He resigned in December 2025 and both he and City agreed to pay Chelsea compensation as part of a settlement.

Q: Did Maresca personally have to pay money to Chelsea?
A: Yes! As part of the settlement, Maresca agreed to pay Chelsea personally, on top of the compensation Manchester City paid.

Q: How many times has Maresca worked at Manchester City?
A: This will be his third spell. He was previously the head coach of the Elite Development Squad and then Guardiola’s first-team assistant.

Q: What happened to Chelsea after Maresca left?
A: Liam Rosenior took over, but Chelsea had a terrible second half of the season, finishing 10th in the Premier League. Rosenior was sacked in April, and Chelsea missed out on European qualification.

Q: Is there bad blood between Chelsea and Manchester City?
A: No — sources say the relationship between the clubs is still good. The delay in announcing Maresca was just about sorting out the contractual and financial details.