Man City hold talks with former Premier League boss as Guardiola's successor | OneFootball

Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has reportedly held talks with Manchester City over becoming the successor of manager Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard is being linked with an exit from Man City in the summer and a number of managers are now being linked with the job at the Etihad Stadium.

While the legendary Catalan still has a year left on his current contract, there is a rapidly growing expectation that he will finally call time on his glittering ten-year reign in Manchester this summer.

Naturally, the City hierarchy isn’t waiting around to be caught off guard.

Man City involved in talks with Enzo Maresca

According to talkSPORT, the Premier League giants have already initiated high-level talks with their preferred successor, former Chelsea boss Maresca.

To understand why Maresca is sitting firmly at the top of City’s wishlist, you have to look at his deep roots at the club.

The Italian tactician is incredibly well-regarded by the City boardroom. He originally worked as the under-23s coach before being promoted to work directly under Guardiola.

During City’s historic, treble-winning 2022/23 season, Maresca served as Pep’s trusted assistant, helping to mastermind their triumphant Champions League campaign.

Because he is a strict disciple of Guardiola’s possession-heavy style of play, the club’s director of football, Hugo Viana, views him as the ultimate, natural continuation of the current sporting project.

Maresca has impressed in his short managerial career

Maresca’s managerial stock has skyrocketed. He brilliantly led Leicester City to the Championship title in 2024 before taking over the chaotic reins at Chelsea.

His first season at Stamford Bridge was wildly successful, culminating in UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs.

With Maresca now a free agent, talkSPORT reports that he is completely clear to sign for any club this summer.

Replacing an era-defining genius like Guardiola is an almost impossible task, just look at the struggles Manchester United faced after Sir Alex Ferguson retired.