Enzo Maresca appointed Leicester City’s manager on a three-year deal

Enzo Maresca has been appointed Leicester’s new manager days after helping Manchester City win an historic Treble.

The Italian, who has left Pep Guardiola’s staff to join the newly-relegated Championship club, has signed a three-year deal, having been identified at an early stage by Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. Maresca reached a verbal agreement on Friday morning, as reported by Mail Sport. 

Maresca will be back in the English second tier 23 years after leaving West Bromwich Albion for Juventus in January 2000. He is highly rated as a coach having worked under both Guardiola and Manuel Pellegrini, the former City and West Ham boss.

Leicester had been without a permanent manager since sacking Brendan Rodgers on April 2, with interim boss Dean Smith unable to keep the club in the Premier League during his eight-game stint.

Smith and Scott Parker were among the contenders considered by the Foxes to lead the club back to the top flight but Maresca’s detailed knowledge of Leicester’s senior squad and younger players was one of the factors that swung the decision his way.

Maresca was a part of the City set up that won a historic Treble in the 2022-23 campaign

The Italian has been a first-team manager only once – a 14-game spell at Parma in 2021 – but is highly regarded by Guardiola.

He was part of the Catalan’s staff as City completed a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble, after also taking charge of City’s Under-23s, leading them to a Premier League 2 title in 2021.

Maresca was also on Southampton’s shortlist, with the relegated Saints appointing Russell Martin, while he is said to have attracted interest from Celtic.

He faces a hugely difficult task. Leicester had eight players reach the end of their contracts last month while James Maddison and Harvey Barnes will be among the high earners to be sold. 

 Working alongside director of football Jon Rudkin and head of recruitment Martyn Glover, Maresca will be expected to create a side largely from scratch that is capable of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt.

His preferred style of play is similar to that of Guardiola and he is expected to give young players a chance, with young centre-back Ben Nelson among those who may have a chance in pre-season. Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney is thought to be among the club’s early transfer targets.

Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has banked on Maresca to get the Foxes back to the Premier League