MANCHESTER — New Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca marked his official unveiling by paying ultimate tribute to predecessor Pep Guardiola, calling the legendary Catalan tactical mind the finest manager of the modern era.
Maresca spoke candidly about taking over the Etihad hotseat following Guardiola’s departure after a decade-long spell that yielded 20 major trophies.
Addressing media at his introductory press conference, the 46-year-old Italian underscored the scale of the task ahead while expressing deep admiration for Guardiola.
“First of all, I have to say that it’s a privilege because the club decided to go for me,” Maresca said. “I’ve said many times that I consider Pep probably the best coach in the world in the last 20 to 25 years. It is a challenge. It is nice, it is a privilege.”
Having previously worked under Guardiola as an assistant coach during City’s historic 2022–23 treble-winning campaign, Maresca noted that he understands the blueprint and principles required to maintain success at the highest level.
When asked about the difficulties experienced by premier clubs following long-serving legends—such as Manchester United post-Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsenal after Arsène Wenger—Maresca emphasized Manchester City’s structural stability as the deciding factor.
City have employed just three managers over 17 years (Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, Pep Guardiola).
Maresca noted that the club hired him due to a aligned philosophy focused on aggressive pressing off the ball and controlling games.
The Italian is focusing on finalizing pre-season preparations ahead of the Community Shield clash against Arsenal on August 16.
