Enzo Maresca pays tribute to Kevin Keegan in first Manchester City press conference | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca dedicated the first words of his Manchester City tenure to pay tribute to the late, great Kevin Keegan, who passed away at the age of 75 on Tuesday.

Keegan, former England player and manager, was diagnosed with stage four cancer in January, when his family revealed that he was set to begin treatment.

The two-time Ballon d’Or winner managed the Citizens from 2001 to 2005, winning 77 of the 176 games that he took charge of, while putting four goals past Manchester United, coming from three goals down to beat Tottenham Hotspur in a remarkable FA Cup tie, and leading the only side to beat the eventual Premier League champions, Chelsea.

“Before we start, I would like to send a message: a big hug to Kevin Keegan’s family,” Maresca said at the start of his first press conference as City manager on Friday.

The poignant tribute grounded what is otherwise a historic day in Manchester, with Maresca succeeding the legendary Pep Guardiola, who left the club at the end of last season to mark a decade of unprecedented success at the Etihad Stadium where he won 20 trophies, including the UEFA Champions League and a first Treble for an English side since United in 1999.

Maresca, 46, has twice worked with the club – first with the Elite Development Squad in 2020/21 and then as Guardiola’s assistant throughout the 2023 Treble campaign – but will now take charge of the first team.

“I’d like to say it’s a privilege – the reason why the club decided to go for me; that means for me it’s a privilege. I consider Pep [Guardiola] the best coach in the world in the last 20, 25 years,” the Italian said.

“It’s a challenge, it’s nice, a privilege. Also, the history of managers with many years in the same club, after always you struggle a little; Sir Alex [Ferguson], Arsène [Wenger]. But also it’s a challenge to try and do the right things immediately for this organisation, the fans, everyone.

“I feel back home. I feel very good. The feeling since day one has been brilliant. So I’m happy.”

After being named Leicester City manager at the end of the 2022/23 season, Maresca guided them instantly to the EFL Championship title and subsequent promotion before moving on to the job at Chelsea shortly after.

At the Stamford Bridge club, Maresca secured a fourth-place finish, won the UEFA Europa League, and claimed the FIFA Club World Cup before departing on New Year’s Day after conflicting with the London club’s ownership.

“To be honest,” Maresca said. “I feel quite lucky in terms of my former club – Leicester, Chelsea. I think we did a great job in both clubs. The identity of the teams was clear, the success of the team was clear. And I feel very lucky to have been part of these clubs.

“But now I think we are here today; that is the most important thing. Just about City.

“This club, this organisation, has had three managers in 17 years. This is not normal. It doesn’t happen often. This probably is one of the things that I’m confident we can do a great job, continue to do the job that has been done in the last 14 or 15 years, since Roberto Mancini, Manuel [Pellegrini], and for 10 years with Pep [Guardiola]”

City get their 2026/27 season underway against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on August 23 following a pre-season tour of Asia which will involve friendlies against Inter Milan, K-League All Stars and Atlético Madrid.

The majority of City stars will be available for the games, except those who reached the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup; notably, Elliot Anderson will have three weeks off before joining the squad at the end of pre-season.