Man City set to replace Guardiola with Maresca

Maresca's expected succession to Guardiola will mean the arrival of a much lower profile figure, but one steeped in the club's methods and approach. Maresca, who took Leicester back into the Premier League before winning the Conference League then the Club World Cup at Chelsea , is another graduate of the Guardiola coaching academy. The Italian worked as assistant under Guardiola at City before branching out on his own, following the same template as Mikel Arteta, now on the brink of Premier Lea

Maresca would not arrive with the stellar coaching reputation and track record of success at elite level that the Catalan had accumulated, first at Barcelona then Bayern Munich, before arriving at City a decade ago and there would undoubtedly be an element of risk to his appointment. He would be following the hardest act of all, far harder than when he succeeded Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge in June 2024. And Maresca can be a combustible personality, evidenced by him leaving Chelsea in January after fractures appeared with the club's hierarchy. His time at Chelsea was regarded as a success, with qualifications, his possession-based football not always winning favour with supporters. Succeeding Guardiola, and somehow trying to replicate his remarkable successes, will be bring heavy pressures and intense scrutiny. In Maresca's favour, however, is that he would come with a glowing reference from the Spaniard, who believes he never received enough credit for his work at Chelsea . City's hierarchy, crucially, have first-hand knowledge of Maresca's character and ability. He would offer an element of continuity and stability following the seismic event that will be the departure of one of the greatest, most innovative figures in the game's history. Maresca would be trying to fill arguably the biggest shoes in modern football, but this would be no rushed appointment, no knee-jerk response. City's Abu Dhabi-based rulers will have been preparing for this day. Every aspect of due diligence will have been done. The rubber stamp would have only been applied after meticulous deliberations.

Key points

• Maresca would not arrive with the stellar coaching reputation and track record of success at elite level that the Catalan had accumulated, first at Barcelona then Bayern Munich, before arriving at…
• He would be following the hardest act of all, far harder than when he succeeded Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge in June 2024.
• And Maresca can be a combustible personality, evidenced by him leaving Chelsea in January after fractures appeared with the club's hierarchy.
• His time at Chelsea was regarded as a success, with qualifications, his possession-based football not always winning favour with supporters.
• Succeeding Guardiola, and somehow trying to replicate his remarkable successes, will be bring heavy pressures and intense scrutiny.