Enzo Maresca is “ready and waiting” to take over from Pep Guardiola this summer if, as many in football circles increasingly believe, the Manchester City boss decides to call time on his glittering spell at the Etihad.
Guardiola is keeping his cards characteristically close to his chest when it comes to a decision over whether to see out the two-year contract he signed in 2025. The i Paper has been told, however, that City’s succession planning has seen them sound out Maresca – to the extent that the former Chelsea boss is now seen as “off limits” by other top Premier League and European clubs who are searching for a manager.
Succession planning has been one of the areas City have become a market leader in, with several sources telling The i Paper that should Guardiola go this summer, there are plans in place beyond the next appointment.
One source close to the club said that Vincent Kompany being appointed manager in a few years, after Maresca has steadied a transitional City side, is “inevitable”.
After an inauspicious start to life in management at Burnley, Kompany has created one of the most exhilarating teams to watch in Europe at Bayern Munich. While sources stressed he will not want to leave Munich yet, given his Bavarian project is still in its infancy, City will “always be appealing”.
Kompany had a statue erected outside the Etihad Stadium in recognition of the role the former club captain had in City’s rise.
Guardiola, arguably the greatest manager of all time, can make a decision whenever he wants – he has earned that right. If there is even a chance he stays, City will hold on for as long as possible.
The uncertainty around Guardiola is nothing new. All season there have been rumblings that he believes his legacy has been cemented and, having carried the project into a new phase that has seen his Treble-winning side replaced by a younger, hungrier group who can challenge for the Champions League again, it is time to hand over the reins.
But what does feel new is some of the jockeying for position ahead of a managerial market that will see Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid appoint new managers this summer. City and Liverpool – who retain confidence in Arne Slot for the moment – could yet join the table while there will be international jobs vacant after the World Cup.
An accomplished, experienced and trophy-winning manager like Maresca would be assumed by many to be in the mix for a many of those roles but – according to at least one top-flight executive involved in this space – he is “Manchester City’s man” if Guardiola goes.
There is a logic to it. As a former Guardiola apprentice at City, he is familiar with the structure and set-up at the Etihad. He worked in the academy and then as part of Guardiola’s backroom set-up for three years and is understood to be close to Hugo Viana, City’s sporting director.
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He is also keen on the role and available, even if the terms of his exit from Chelsea mean that there would need to be negotiations between City and the Blues to agree compensation. That is not expected to be a major factor preventing him from making the move if Guardiola goes, though.
It feels like the obvious move – but with Guardiola, you just never know. Earlier this year City were more confident he would stay until 2027 and he has reacted with incredulity to questions about his future in recent months. But the fact he is yet to nail his colours to the mast is probably not good news.
Maresca is not the only one waiting with bated breath.