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Man City eye Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola replacement - Ornstein
Cameron Smith
- 18 Dec 2025 12:43 GMT
- 4 min read
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Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is on Manchester City’s shortlist of possible replacements for Pep Guardiola, according to David Ornstein.
The Italian has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit in recent days, following his cryptic comments aimed at the club’s hierarchy last weekend, and it has now emerged that his situation is being closely monitored by Man City.
Guardiola’s current contract with the eight-time Premier League champions runs until 2027, however reports have suggested that he could step down from his role at the Etihad Stadium following the conclusion of the current season.
It’s far from guaranteed that Guardiola will leave the club, but there is a growing feeling that he may depart and Man City are now preparing for a potential exit by sounding out a list of replacements.
That is according to The Athletic’s Ornstein, who has confirmed that Maresca has been identified as a strong candidate for the job by the Man City hierarchy.
The Chelsea boss was the head coach of Man City’s U23 during the 2020-21 season, before taking on the head coach role at Parma, and he then returned to the club as Guardiola’s assistant manager in 2022.
Maresca helped Man City win the treble in the 2022-23 campaign and he was subsequently appointed as the new Leicester City boss, before joining Chelsea last summer.
Will Enzo Maresca leave Chelsea to join Man City?
Maresca still has over three-and-a-half years remaining on his current Chelsea deal, however his future at the club has come under immense scrutiny after he revealed the build-up to his side’s win over Everton was “the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn't support us.”
It has been widely reported that his comments were aimed at the club’s owners and rumours have suggested that Maresca’s position as Chelsea head coach may come into question next year.
As a result, Man City’s interest will add a further layer of speculation surrounding his future at Stamford Bridge.
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