Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is reportedly tipped to become the next manager of Manchester City ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Pep Guardiola is expected to leave City following Sunday’s final Premier League game against Aston Villa FC at the Etihad Stadium, bringing an end to his trophy-laden decade in charge.
Maresca has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed the Spaniard, with reports suggesting talks between City and the Italian are already at an advanced stage.
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The 46-year-old is understood to be eager to return to the Etihad and is expected to be formally confirmed as Guardiola’s successor in the coming weeks.
Maresca previously worked under Guardiola during City’s historic treble-winning 2022/23 campaign and also played a significant role within the club’s academy setup before stepping into senior management.
The former West Bromwich Albion FC and Juventus FC midfielder left City in 2023 to take charge of Leicester City FC, guiding the Foxes back to the Premier League in his only season at the club.
He later moved to Chelsea, where he enjoyed a successful campaign by winning the Club World Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League while also securing UEFA Champions League qualification.
Guardiola has previously praised Maresca’s managerial ability, describing him as one of the best coaches in world football.
“One of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca, I know him quite well, but the job he has done at Chelsea does not get enough credit,” Guardiola said.
“Winning the Club World Cup, Conference League, qualification for the Champions League in such a tough league with a young team — it is exceptional.”
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