Enzo Maresca will succeed Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea’s head coach; the 44-year-old Italian is leaving Leicester after leading them to promotion to the Premier League by winning the Championship; Chelsea will confirm Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on Monday, replacing Thomas Frank, Roberto De Zerbi, and Kieran McKenna. The 44-year-old, who will succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, has agreed to a five-year contract and will leave Leicester after taking the club back to the Premier League by winning the Championship.
Maresca was Chelsea’s top pick after a shortlist that included Brentford manager Thomas Frank, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi was set up. The Italian’s release clause at the King Power Stadium is thought to have ranged between £8 million and £10 million. Maresca is taking six Leicester backroom staff members with him, including former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Cabellero.
Chelsea co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart oversaw the recruitment process after being tasked by co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly. They traveled to Marbella for face-to-face talks with Maresca after Leicester granted permission for the talks to begin. Chelsea were impressed by Maresca’s depth and breadth of knowledge about their squad during discussions with his representation, as well as his concentration on the style Chelsea wants to play and his enthusiasm for the position. Maresca’s concern with possession and positional play made him the leading candidate to succeed Pochettino, who resigned by mutual agreement.
The contract duration underlines Chelsea’s commitment to bringing long-term success back to the club and puts a stop to any potential discussion regarding renewals. Senior Chelsea officials feel the next head coach will be the final piece of the puzzle to complete the club’s new modern structure. The West London club expects to be busy in the transfer market this summer, with players arriving and moving. Trading is likely to result in the recruitment of a new No. 9 and centre-back, while the futures of high-paid players such as Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga must be decided.
‘Chelsea believes Maresca is the one for them.’ Sky Sports News’ chief reporter, Kaveh Solhekol: “Chelsea went through a comprehensive process, considering Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank, and Roberto De Zerbi, but they believe Maresca is the best fit for them. “The other contenders were all extremely remarkable, but Chelsea believes that Maresca is the right person for them right now, and he shares their vision for the future. “He has only been a manager for one and a half seasons. He was formerly a manager at Parma in Italy’s second tier before taking over at Leicester.
“There have been some issues behind the scenes and not all Leicester fans have been completely happy with him even though he got them promotion back to the Premier League.”There were issues with recruitment as well as charges against Leicester for allegedly violating PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules), and they are now subject to an EFL transfer embargo. “There have been concerns, but Chelsea only wants a head coach. They are looking for someone to coach the first team and deal with the media. They believe they have everything else under control.
“You have to remember that Mikel Arteta had no prior experience managing in the Premier League before joining Arsenal, but he had worked for Pep Guardiola, which is precisely the same as Maresca. “I wouldn’t say he’s a better manager than Arteta, but he has more experience than when he took over at Arsenal. “Do not underestimate the Pep impact. If you’ve worked under Guardiola, you’ve got a good start when looking for these sorts of jobs, but you still have to impress, as Maresca has done during these negotiations.
“I’ve been told that his knowledge of the Chelsea squad, including the youth team players is encyclopaedic.” Why is Chelsea willing to take a chance with Maresca? Despite having played fewer than 70 professional appearances, 53 in England and none in the Premier League, Maresca is destined to succeed Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, according to Sam Blitz and Ron Walker. Nevertheless, he arrives with big expectations. The 44-year-old will take over in identical conditions as Claudio Ranieri did in 2000, with aspirations to reach the Champions League.
Pochettino’s sudden exit from Stamford Bridge was primarily due to the Blues’ failure to finish in the top four. Chelsea’s owners watched last month’s Champions League semi-finals and wondered why the team had not reached this stage. Despite his relative inexperience, Chelsea do not simply regard Maresca as a manager capable of guiding them into Europe’s top club competition. They want an appealing football style that emphasizes possession and dominance.
His devotion and education in the Pep Guardiola philosophy has a significant impact on their thinking. Maresca has brought a Manchester City-like style of play to Leicester during his year at the King Power. That same patient play that has kept Guardiola’s side at the basement of the Premier League in terms of forward-pass proportion year after year has become ingrained virtually overnight; in the Championship, only Southampton had a lower percentage than Leicester last season.
“Maresca is so embedded in that Guardiola style of play that he was always going to attract interest when he was able to make that style successful – and that’s what he’s done at Leicester,” said Jordan Blackwell, Leicester Mercury correspondent, to Sky Sports. “It felt like the club had thought outside the box in bringing Maresca in, a man with extensive tactical knowledge whose acumen has been lauded.” That includes not only being Pep’s assistant, but also coaching Man City U21s and West Ham’s main team.
What’s at the top of Maresca’s Chelsea in-tray? Chelsea’s focus is now on upgrading Maresca’s team, writes Joe Shread, with the head coach position almost secured. Despite purchasing two goalkeepers last summer, the Blues are looking for a new number one, which is understandable considering Djordje Petrovic’s limitations. Thiago Silva’s departure demands the signing of a replacement centre back. Tosin Adarabioyo, who is out of contract with Fulham, has been offered a deal but is also desired by Newcastle.
Chelsea’s ongoing injury problems with Reece James and Ben Chilwell may prompt them to look for new full-backs, while their hunt for a quality No. 9 continues, despite spending a combined £84 million on forwards Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku last summer. Jackson showed flashes of potential in his debut season, netting 14 goals in 31 starts, but he is not the steady target man Chelsea has been looking for, possibly since Diego Costa’s departure in 2017. Since their arrival two years ago, the Boehly-Clearlake ownership has sanctioned more than £1 billion in transfer spending. Expect this to continue.
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