- The Italian becomes the fourth permanent manager of the current owners’ era
- He leaves Leicester after securing promotion to the Premier League
- Are Pep’s City the best the Premier League has ever seen? Listen to the It all starts! podcast
Chelsea have confirmed Enzo Maresca as their new head coach, showing their confidence in Mauricio Pochettino’s successor by handing him a five-year contract with an option for a sixth.
The 44-year-old Italian joins from Leicester City, who he led to the Championship title last season, and will be owed a compensation package worth around £10 million from Chelsea.
Co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart led the search, with the club’s executives including Behdad Eghbali, Jose E Feliciano and Todd Boehly jointly endorsing his appointment.
They were impressed by Maresca’s enthusiasm for the vacancy and his vision on how he can help Chelsea regain their elite status in English and European football.
“We are pleased to welcome Enzo to the Chelsea family,” Chelsea’s ownership group said.
Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Enzo Maresca (pictured) as their new manager
Maresca led Leicester back to the top flight at the first time of asking after joining in the summer of 2023
Maresca replaces Mauricio Pochettino (above), who left the club by mutual consent in May
“We look forward to supporting him and the rest of the sports team as they fulfill their potential and our expectations in the years to come.”
“He is a highly gifted coach and leader who we are confident can help achieve our vision and competitive objectives for the club.”
Maresca added: “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for every coach. That’s why I’m so excited about this opportunity.
‘I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud.’
Maresca is a former assistant to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, an association that has led to him being dubbed ‘Diet Pep’ by some supporters, and Chelsea are confident he will bring the possession-based football they want.
A statement from Leicester said: ‘Enzo Maresca has left his position as first-team manager of Leicester City after the board’s conditions for his departure were met. Six members of staff will also leave the club.’
Mail Sport exclusively revealed the group of top coaches who will join Maresca at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, with Chelsea agreeing during several positive rounds of talks that he should have access to the world’s most skilled coaching and technical staff.
Former Blues goalkeeper Willy Caballero will join Maresca as assistant manager after winning praise for his innovative ideas while acting as a sounding board for the Italian at Leicester.
Maresca is the fourth permanent manager under owners Todd Boehly (left) and Behdad Eghbali (right)
He spent two spells at Manchester City, including a year as assistant to Pep Guardiola (centre)
Coach Danny Walker, goalkeeping coaches Michele de Bernardin and Ben Roberts, fitness coach Marcos Alvarez and first-team analyst Javier Molina Caballero are also participating.
Bernardo Cueva, a highly regarded coach who has joined from Brentford, will immediately join the first-team coaching staff ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
Finally, Roberto Vitiello will act as development coach at Stamford Bridge and will be tasked with nurturing Chelsea’s core of young players.
Maresca is the fourth permanent head coach to work for Chelsea since the current owner took over in May 2022, after Pochettino, Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel. Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard also previously acted as interims.
Other candidates for the head coach position included Roberto De Zerbi, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank, all of whom were on the club’s shortlist before it was revealed Maresca had faced his competition on Monday morning.
His association with Guardiola has led to him being dubbed ‘Diet Pep’ by some supporters
That led to an acceleration of efforts to appoint the Leicester manager.
Some supporters have questioned Maresca’s credentials, having only managed Leicester in the Championship and Parma in Serie B, but Chelsea are confident he is the right candidate to take them forward in what they see as an exciting new era.