Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City one day. When that day comes, the club already has someone in mind. His name is Enzo Maresca.
During City’s pre-season tour in 2024, Guardiola was told that people were comparing Maresca to him. Some even joked and called the Italian “Diet Pep.” Guardiola laughed at first and asked if the nickname was about the beard. Then he got serious. He praised Maresca’s intelligence, personality, and coaching ability.
Man City does not like chaos. Every major decision is built on continuity. They want the team to keep playing the same way even after Guardiola leaves. That is why Maresca is a strong candidate. He already knows how City works. He has been inside the system.
Maresca first worked with City during the Covid period. He organized remote tactical meetings and helped develop young players. When he coached the Under-23 team, they won the league. Several of his players moved up to the senior team. Guardiola later brought him back as an assistant coach. Maresca was part of the team that won the treble in 2022-23 — one of the greatest seasons in English football history.
What makes him different is that he does not just copy Guardiola. Many coaches try to imitate City’s style without understanding the culture behind it. Maresca mixes Guardiola’s tactics with his own personality. He also has experience as a head coach. He won promotion with Leicester City. He survived the pressure at Chelsea. He knows how to handle big clubs.
Replacing Guardiola will be one of the hardest jobs in football. Expectations will be huge. Comparisons will be constant. But if City wants continuity instead of a complete reset, Maresca is the best option.
