Maresca, who previously served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, has been appointed as the new head coach of Chelsea. The Italian manager will reportedly sign a five-year contract with an option for an additional year, providing stability to the club after recent changes made by US investors Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly.
Chelsea had been in search of a new manager after parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino, who spent just one season in charge. Other names linked to the vacancy included Thomas Frank from Brentford and Kieran McKenna, who guided Ipswich to promotion alongside Leicester. However, it was Maresca who impressed Chelsea’s decision-makers and secured the job.
Despite a late surge in form that secured sixth place in the Premier League, Chelsea missed out on Champions League qualification and a trophy. However, a strong finish to the season featuring five consecutive wins showed promise for the future and ensured European competition for the next campaign.