Reports from sources have revealed that Chelsea has initiated contact with Leicester City to seek permission to engage in discussions with Enzo Maresca. The Italian manager has been identified as the leading candidate to take over the reins from Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. Maresca, who is 44 years old, achieved success by guiding Leicester to promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship title in his debut season in charge.
In addition to Enzo Maresca, former Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are also being considered by Chelsea as potential replacements for Pochettino. The decision to part ways with Pochettino came after Chelsea finished sixth in the Premier League and reached the Carabao Cup final under his management. Maresca’s coaching philosophy is centered around a possession-based style of play and he has a track record of providing opportunities for young emerging talents.
Leicester City is reportedly anticipating a compensation fee of approximately £9 million ($11.5m) if they permit Maresca to enter into discussions with Chelsea. The highly-rated coach had a brief stint as the head coach of Serie B club Parma during the 2021-22 season, and previously led City’s reserve team to victory in the Premier League 2. As a player, Maresca tasted success with Juventus in Serie A in 2002, and also secured two UEFA Cups and a Copa del Rey with Sevilla during his career.
Sources have disclosed that Maresca’s coaching style resonates well with young players, as evidenced by the positive experiences of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia who worked with him during his time at Manchester City. Maresca’s understanding of the game and his ability to nurture talent has garnered attention from top clubs like Chelsea, who are keen on securing his services to drive the team forward.
The pursuit of Enzo Maresca by Chelsea signals the club’s ambition to prioritize a progressive and youth-focused approach to management. With a proven track record of success at Leicester City and his past experiences in Serie A and with European trophies, Maresca presents an exciting prospect for Chelsea as they seek to elevate their performance on the field.
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