Enzo Maresca has been named as a shock contender to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The Chelsea boss is high on the Cityzens’ list of replacements if the legendary coach was to depart next summer.
According to numerous well-placed sources outside the club — speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships — there is a growing anticipation of this being Guardiola’s last season at City. A firm decision will likely be made closer to the campaign finishing
He is currently under contract until the summer of 2027, and he has previously hinted at taking a break from management after the end of his City tenure.
But despite the fact City expect Guardiola to remain at the club for the duration of his deal, contingency plans are being lined up in the event he were to leave.
Sources in his native Spain feel that there is a growing chance that Guardiola could leave the club this summer, rather than see out the rest of his contract.
Having previously worked there at youth and senior levels, Maresca retains admirers in the hierarchy and is expected to figure prominently if a vacancy arises, although he would not be the only contender.
Guardiola is contracted until June 2027, thanks to a new deal signed in November 2024 which extended terms that were approaching their final six months.
It gives both parties time and, historically, the 54-year-old has left it relatively late before determining his future.
READ ALSO : FIFA Announces $50m prize money for World Cup winner
Maresca has history with City, having joined the development staff at the club in 2020 following a stint with West Ham.
Maresca is well known to the 10-time English champions from two spells either side of a stint as head coach of Italian club Parma. He led City’s Under-21s for the 2020-21 season and returned as a first-team assistant in the summer of 2022.
The Italian’s Chelsea contract runs through to 2029, with an option to extend by 12 months, although uncertainty has arisen in recent days after he called the build-up to Saturday’s home victory over Everton “the worst 48 hours since I joined the club, because many people didn’t support us”.
He declined to elaborate during subsequent news conferences but has repeatedly spoken of an affinity with the Chelsea fans, most recently following Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final win at Cardiff City.
Maresca, 45, switched representatives to the so-called ‘super agent’ Jorge Mendes in the Autumn, a move that will be designed to support his journey in management.
Speaking to ESPN Brasil in May, Guardiola pledged to take a break from football upon departing City, who he joined almost a decade ago.
“After my contract with City, I’m going to stop,” the Catalan said. “I am sure. I don’t know if I’m going to retire, but I’m going to take a break.”
Guardiola was quizzed on the topic again in October, when former assistant Carles Planchart suggested he should step back from the game.
“At the moment, I think I have the energy with my players to simply make a better season than last season,” Guardiola explained. “There is the margin that we can do better in many aspects and that gives me the energy that it’s not job done. It’s completely unfinished business. That’s why I am here.”
Operating under Guardiola in 2022-23 preceded Maresca’s appointment by Leicester City and he immediately oversaw their promotion to the Premier League, only to then join Chelsea as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement.
They finished fourth in the top-flight and lifted the Conference League and expanded Club World Cup titles at the first attempt.
Chelsea currently occupy fourth place in the table after 16 games, while Guardiola’s City are six points ahead of them in second.