Official: Maresca hired by Manchester City, reveals Chelsea resignation | OneFootball

Italian manager Enzo Maresca has officially been appointed by Manchester City after they reportedly paid Chelsea up to €20m. ‘The decision was only mine’ to quit Stamford Bridge.

The decision had been in the air for several months, even before Pep Guardiola announced that he would be stepping down at the end of the season.

Maresca had already worked for the club as coach of their youth team in 2020-21, then as assistant manager to Guardiola in 2022-23, so this is his third stint at the Etihad on a contract to June 2029.

Manchester City hand keys to Maresca

BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Enzo Maresca head coach of Chelsea FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC at Stadio di Bergamo on December 09, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

“Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me,” Maresca told the club website.

“City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful. For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively.

“This will be my third spell here. I know this Club, I know the demands and I know the expectations.

WROCLAW, POLAND – MAY 28: Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, celebrates with the UEFA Conference League trophy after his team’s victory in the UEFA Conference League Final 2025 between Real Betis Balompie and Chelsea FC at Stadion Wroclaw on May 28, 2025 in Wroclaw, Poland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability.

“I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.”

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 13: Enzo Maresca, Head Coach of Chelsea FC, lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy after his team’s victory following the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

There was some controversy around the appointment, because Manchester City first had to negotiate with Chelsea to terminate his contract.

That was still valid, despite their split on January 1, 2026.

It has been reported that Manchester City are going to pay up to €20m for the termination by mutual consent.

After many months of confusion around that situation, the 46-year-old has given his own version of events.

“At the end of December 2025, I made the difficult decision to leave Chelsea. The decision was only mine. My resignation from Chelsea opened a path for me to join Manchester City, which is a club I knew very well,” said Maresca in a separate statement.

“I am ecstatic that I have now joined Manchester City. I recognise that my departure from Chelsea in the middle of the season caused disruption for the club and I apologise for that. It was neither my intention nor my wish.

“I was treated well by everyone at Chelsea and together we achieved great success and memories that I will always treasure. “I am grateful to the club, the owners and the fans for giving me the opportunity.”

The only coaching experience Maresca had in Italy was at Parma, which lasted just 14 games from May to November 2021.