Enzo Maresca \u2013 who had played a role in helping Manchester City win the treble \u2013 was hired as manager of relegated Leicester on Friday. The Italian coach was part of Pep Guardiola’s backroom ensemble at City, where he won the coveted treble comprising the English Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup this season.<\/p>\n
Maresca\u2019 new contract runs to 2026.<\/p>\n
“Enzo brings a combination of personality, method and ambition that meets extremely well with the footballing direction we are looking to take,” Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said. “His philosophy has been built over a rich and varied career, including an outstanding education as a coach, and fits with the vision we have for this next chapter in Leicester City\u00b4s history.”<\/p>\n
A previous assistant to Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham, Maresca had also been coach of Man City\u00b4s elite development squad and Italian team Parma. As part of Guardiola’s staff in 2022, he helped City to the greatest triumphant achievement in its history, which included winning the elusive Champions League title for the first time in their history.<\/p>\n
Maresca no doubt will be facing a stiff challenge at Leicester as the 2016 champion would be hell-bent on bouncing straight back up to the Premier League after the massive letdown of relegation.<\/p>\n
“At the beginning, the target is to play in the best way we can,” Maresca said. “From there, we can build, day by day, our idea and our philosophy, and the most important thing is to try to win games.”<\/p>\n
As a consequence of relegation, Leicester has seen out-of-contract Youri Tielemans leave, with the futures of other star players such as James Maddison and Harvey Barnes also uncertain.<\/p>\n
Maresca takes over from Dean Smith, who was hired for the final eight games after Brendan Rogers was given the sack.<\/p>\n
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