Chelsea appoint Enzo Maresca

Chelsea Football Club have announced Enzo Maresca as the Blues’ new manager ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

On 3rd June 2024, Chelsea announced the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new Head Coach, with the Italian joining the West London club from newly promoted Leicester City. Maresca has signed a five year contract with the club with an option for a further year at Stamford Bridge. He will officially take charge of the club on 1st July 2024.

In a club statement on the Official Chelsea Website, Co-Sporting Directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley had the following to say: “We are delighted to welcome Enzo to Chelsea. He has proven himself to be an excellent coach capable of delivering impressive results with an exciting and identifiable style.

“Enzo has deeply impressed us in our discussions leading up to his appointment. His ambitions and work ethic align with those of the club. We thoroughly look forward to working with him.”

This is what Enzo Maresca himself had to say, via the same club statement: “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach. It is why I am so excited by 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.”

As has been previously mentioned, Maresca had been the Head Coach of Leicester City Football Club. The Italian led the Foxes in what was a superb EFL Championship campaign for the club last term, as they were able to seal an instant return to the Premier League after winning the second tier title with a total of 97 points from 46 matches.

His side also showed great form in front of goal last season, with Maresca’s side scoring no less than 89 goals overall – this was the second best record in the division with Ipswich the only team to score more with 92. The Foxes did have the best defence after only conceding 41 goals – the next best was Leeds United with 43.

Before heading into coaching, Enzo Maresca had a professional playing career that spanned no less than 19 years. Playing as a central midfielder, he played for the likes of West Brom (1998 – 2000), Juventus (2000 – 2004), Fiorentina (2004 – 2005), Sevilla (2005 – 2009), Sampdoria (2012 – 2014) and Palermo (2014 – 2016).

He also spent time as an academy player with AC Milan from 1991 to 1994, and with Cagliari from 1994 to 1998 before signing for West Bromwich Albion.

During his playing career, he did get his hands on plenty of silverware. With Juventus, he was part of the squad that won the 2001/02 Serie A title, as well as the Supercoppa Italiana in 2003.

He had an even more trophy laden time at Sevilla, where he won 5 trophies, which were the Copa del Rey (2006/07), Supercopa de Espana (2007), UEFA Cup (2005/06 & 2006/07), and the UEFA Super Cup (2006). Finally, with Parma, he won the Serie B title in the 2013/14 season.

After a spell as part of the coaching staff at Italian side Ascoli, he joined Manchester City in August 2020 as the manager of their Elite Development Squad, where he won the Premier League 2 title in the 2020/21 season. He then went on to take charge of a club’s senior squad as First Team Head Coach for the first time.

His first job in senior management came with Italian side Parma, who he joined on 27th May 2021. He went on to leave the club later in that same year before being hired as one of the Assistant Managers of Manchester City with Pep Guardiola as Head Coach back in June 2022.

After barely a year in the role, Enzo Maresca decided to take charge of Leicester City, where, as was mentioned earlier on, he had great success in returning the Foxes to the Premier League at the first time of asking by winning the EFL Championship title.

Following the announcement of Enzo Maresca’s appointment at Stamford Bridge, it was revealed that the Italian Head Coach will be joined by the following coaching staff: Willy Caballero (Assistant Manager), Danny Walker (Coach), Marcos Alvarez (Fitness Coach), Javier Molina Caballero (Analyst), Michele De Benrardin (Goalkeeping Coach), Ben Roberts (Goalkeeper Coach & Head Of Global Goalkeeping), Bernardo Cueva (Set-piece Coach) and Roberto Vitiello (Development Coach).

Excitement and anticipation are building ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, and there is strong optimism that Chelsea can enjoy a very successful campaign in the English top flight.

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