Enzo Maresca has been confirmed as Chelsea’s new head coach, succeeding Mauricio Pochettino. The Italian leaves newly-promoted Leicester City in a deal worth around £9 million, having secured the Championship title this term. Maresca will be officially unveiled later this week.
Maresca has signed a five-year contract, with an option for an additional season. He brings a six-strong backroom staff, led by assistant and former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero. The team includes Danny Walker, Michele De Bernardin, Marcos Alvarez, Javier Molina Caballero, and Roberto Vitiello, who will integrate with Chelsea’s existing backroom members.
This appointment marks Chelsea’s sixth managerial change under new owners Todd Boehly, Behdad Eghbali, and Jose Feliciano, including interim appointments. Maresca expressed his excitement, stating: “Joining Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream. I look forward to working with a talented group of players and staff to continue the club’s tradition of success.”
Chelsea’s ownership group welcomed Maresca, noting, “We are thrilled to welcome Enzo into the Chelsea family. We are confident he can help fulfil our vision and competitive goals for the club,” according to The Standard.
Also read: Chelsea Ready to Pay £10m for Leicester’s Enzo Maresca to Replace Pochettino
Maresca previously managed Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad, winning the Premier League 2 title, and had a brief senior management stint with Parma. He returned to City as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants before being appointed Leicester boss last summer. Despite financial distractions, he guided Leicester back to the Premier League, winning 31 of 46 matches.
Leicester expressed disappointment over Maresca’s departure but wished him well, acknowledging his role in their immediate return to the top flight.
Maresca’s playing career includes stints at West Brom, Juventus, Fiorentina, Sevilla, Olympiacos, Malaga, Sampdoria, and Palermo. He turned down a managerial return to Sevilla this summer to pursue his Premier League ambitions with Chelsea.
Maresca’s task at Chelsea is to improve the club’s fortunes following a challenging period under Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Pochettino, who succeeded interim boss Frank Lampard, managed a late-season turnaround, finishing sixth and qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, have been discussing transfer targets with Maresca, accelerating their summer plans. Centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo is set to join on a free transfer, with other departures expected.
Chelsea plans to comply with Premier League financial rules, aiming for quick sales before the June 30 deadline for the 2023-24 Profit and Sustainability Regulations. Armando Broja and Ian Maatsen are likely to leave, with interest from several clubs. Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah are also expected to be sold, contributing to Chelsea’s financial strategy.
