Enzo Maresca appointed Manchester City manager: Why the Italian replaced Pep Guardiola

Maresca is part Italian and Spanish in his approach to coaching and life.

His Spanish influence comes from his family, and his exposure to Guardiola at Barcelona. The peak years of his playing career were at Sevilla and Malaga.

Facing a Barcelona team has opened Maresca’s eyes to a new way of playing, and has helped technical and possession-based teams dominate at a higher level.

In Spain, Maresca met his faithful assistant Willy Caballero and his children were born there. Spanish is currently the main language spoken at home in his extended family.

He was also his “soccer father”, ex Manchester City And West Ham Coach Manuel Pellegrini identified Maresca’s coaching qualities during his playing days.

This terrain helps explain the similarities between Maresca and Guardiola.

Manchester City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has been open in his assessment of Enzo Maresca. The Italian returned to the club after two previous spells – first with the academy and then as assistant coach with Guardiola.

Haldon said: “Obviously one of Pep’s assistants at one point in his career – he’ll tell you – he’s going to take a lot of inspiration from Pep’s philosophy, and you see that in his football.”

But he has improved his own philosophy: I think Enzo will bring a lot to this club.

The pair are known to be in regular contact and Maresca would not have been selected without Guardiola’s knowledge, people close to them said.

It is also known that outgoing sporting director Tiki Begiristain recommended him as Guardiola’s successor when he left the club last summer to hand over his responsibilities to Hugo Viana.

Khaldoon added. “I think the fans like him as a manager, his football philosophy, his football and how the team works and he will go from strength to strength under Maresca’s leadership.

“I think he’s going to be a great addition to the team. It’s a big challenge – that scares a lot of people. The beauty with Enzo is that he really wants that challenge, he loves that challenge.”

Maresca has been influential in his single season under Guardiola, with the Spaniard often relied on by his predecessor. Chelsea Chief for tactical innovations.

Guardiola named England defender John Stones as a central midfielder that campaign and he played a key role in Inter’s Champions League final treble victory.

Maresca, who was head coach of City’s Elite Development Squad in the 2020-21 season, left a lasting impression on the academy.

Now directed by Gareth Taylor LiverpoolWomen’s team and spent time at City with Maresca, he told BBC Sport: “Enzo brings something a little bit different.

“He actually had more freedom in the way he set up the teams because previously most coaches in that area were strictly told to follow a different model of play.

“Nobody seemed to have that conversation with Enzo, but he was positive because you have to evolve – you can’t stand still. At City, as long as you uphold your rationality, it can be listened to and accepted.”

Of course, Maresca is still Italian and has been influenced by playing under legendary coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi.

However, after a poor first spell in charge at Parma, a spell in Manchester saw him take on a leadership role at Leicester City and later Chelsea.