Man City set to Replace Guardiola with Maresca

Enzo Maresca is expected to take over from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ahead of next season.

According to reports from BBC Sport, Guardiola is likely to depart the club after Sunday’s final Premier League match against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, which will mark the end of City’s season.

Former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed the long-serving Spanish manager for the 2026–27 campaign.

Sources indicate that discussions between City and Maresca have reached an advanced stage, with preparations for Guardiola’s exit having been ongoing for several months.

The 46-year-old is said to be keen on the role and is expected to be officially confirmed as Guardiola’s successor in due course.

Maresca previously worked at Manchester City as an assistant coach during their 2022–23 Treble-winning season under Guardiola, and also held a role within the club’s academy setup before moving into senior management.

He later left City in 2023 to manage Leicester City, where he guided them to Premier League promotion in his only season in charge.

At Chelsea, Maresca won the Club World Cup and the Conference League and secured Champions League qualification in his sole full campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Guardiola has previously praised him, saying he is “one of the best managers in the world,” highlighting his achievements at Chelsea and his work with a young squad in a highly competitive league.