Manchester, June 29 (IANS) Manchester City have named Enzo Maresca as their new manager, with the Italian signing a three-year contract to succeed Pep Guardiola following the Spaniard’s departure at the end of the season.

The Premier League club confirmed the appointment on Monday, giving the 46-year-old the challenge of replacing Guardiola. His decade-long time at City changed the team into one of the strongest in English football.

Maresca knows the Etihad Stadium well. He previously coached City’s youth team and served as Guardiola’s assistant during the team’s historic treble-winning season in 2018-19. This experience gave him a strong grasp of the club’s philosophy and culture.

“Manchester City is a club I know very well, and getting the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me,” Maresca said in a club statement. “The quality of the people who work here makes it special, and I want to thank them for believing in my ability.

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

Maresca’s managerial career started with Parma in 2021, where he won only four of his 14 matches before leaving. He rebuilt his reputation at Leicester City at the start of the 2023-24 Championship season, leading the Foxes back to the Premier League as champions.

That success led him to Chelsea, where he focused on developing the team’s young and expensive squad. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Maresca helped Chelsea finish fourth in the Premier League and win both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, his relationship with the club’s owners soured, and he left midway through his second season.

He now takes on one of the biggest jobs in world football as Guardiola steps down after a time of remarkable success at Manchester City. Guardiola announced in May that he would leave the club after ten years, having won six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, and many domestic trophies. He ended his tenure by lifting both the FA Cup and the League Cup in his final season, closing the chapter on one of the greatest coaching careers in English football history.

–IANS

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