Chelsea set to appoint Leicester boss Enzo Maresca as new manager
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Enzo Maresca has just one full season in charge of a senior team, but he led Leicester to the Championship title this past season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Chelsea have reportedly agreed a deal with Leicester City to appoint Enzo Maresca as their new manager to replace Mauricio Pochettino, according to football insider Fabrizio Romano and multiple reports.
The 44-year-old Italian is set to sign a five-year contract with an option for a further year, which in a way is uncharacteristic of the Blues.
Maresca has just one full season in charge of a senior team, but he led Leicester to the Championship title in the 2023-24 season and the Foxes will compete in the English Premier League next term.
However, he has now moved on from the King Power Stadium to Stamford Bridge as Romano confirmed that the agreement is now “done”, pending official announcements from the clubs.
Since the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital takeover of Chelsea in 2022,
All were not given much time to prove themselves and were sacked following poor results, so the Blues are seemingly taking a different direction by granting Maresca a five-year deal.
Leicester are also believed to be due a compensation fee in the region of £10 million (S$17.2 million).
Pochettino oversaw five straight victories to end the Premier League campaign, leaving Chelsea sixth in the table.
The Blues had initially qualified for the Europa League, but because eighth-placed Manchester United beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final
Pochettino left by mutual consent
Maresca will now face the challenge of taking control of an expensively assembled squad – Chelsea’s transfer spending has gone beyond the £850 million mark in just three windows since the takeover – and be in charge of some of the best young talents.
Inexperience, however, may be a stumbling block.
Before he was in charge at Leicester, his only previous managerial experience was a short spell at Parma in Serie B.
The Italian also spent some time as part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at City.
In other Premier League managerial news, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has signed a new five-year contract that will keep him at the club until 2029, the club announced on May 27.
The Spaniard has been rewarded again – a month after he signed a three-year contract – for guiding his team to fourth place and a spot in next season’s Champions League. They also reached the Europa Conference League last four.
The 52-year-old has transformed Villa’s fortunes since arriving in October 2022, when they were just three points above the relegation zone.
“I am very happy to take this step (signing a new contract) and the responsibility of leading this club,” Emery said.
“Since I came to Villa, with (co-owner) Wes (Edens) and (chairman) Nassef (Sawiris) we found always the best environment and structure to develop a project with the highest ambition.
“There’s a great chemistry in Aston Villa and the element of the fans’ support also makes the difference to feel like home. We are really excited to continue this journey with no limits to our dreams.” AFP, REUTERS
