3 Key details about Chelsea's main head coach target Enzo Maresca

With reports now indicating that Leicester's Enzo Maresca is set to join Chelsea Football Club as the new coach, here are key things to know about the Italian.

Chelsea is nearing the appointment of a new manager following Mauricio Pochettino's exit from the club in May 2024. Reports now indicate that Leicester City's Enzo Maresca has emerged as the leading candidate.

Kieran McKenna from Ipswich Town who was initially tipped for the position according to David Ornstein of The Athletic is no longer in contention for the position. It has also been revealed by popular sports journalist Fabrizio Romano that Ruben Amorim has also been ruled out of the race due to his lack of experience when it comes to English football.

Reports indicate that the owners of Chelsea are on the lookout for a young, progressive manager capable of challenging Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta at the top of the Premier League.

What club is Enzo Maresca coaching?

Enzo Maresca's experience as Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City, akin to Arteta's career path, is one of the reasons he is a favourite to take over the role of manager at Chelsea.

He played a key role in Manchester City winning the Premier League 2 title in 2021, working with talents like Cole Palmer, before a brief and unsuccessful stint as head coach of Parma.

He is currently coaching Leicester City where he turned things around and led the former champions back to the premier league ahead of the 2024/2025 season amidst uncertainity and friction with the fans because of his style of play.

What is Enzo Maresca's style of play and tactics?

For as many that have been trying to understand Enzo Maresca's style of play or tactics on the football pitch it is safe to say the Italian is very attack minded.

Having been influenced by Guardiola, it’s no wonder Enzo prefers a possession-oriented system with a strong focus on ball retention; in the Championship last 2023/2024 season, only Southampton had a higher possession percentage than the Enzo managed Leicester City (65.6% to 62.2%).

Enzo Maresca's playing style can be described as follows:

1. Possession-oriented: Maresca's teams prioritize keeping possession and controlling the pace of the game.

2. Aggressive pressing: He places great importance on regaining possession quickly after losing the ball, employing an aggressive pressing strategy.

3. Adaptable formations: Maresca is recognized for experimenting with various formations, frequently switching between 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, and 3-4-3 systems.

4. Technically-gifted players: He prefers players with excellent technical skills, including ball control, vision, and passing ability.

5. Attacking creativity: Maresca's teams often include inventive and attack-minded players, focusing on scoring goals.

6. Tactical flexibility: He is willing to modify his tactics to match the opposition and the circumstances of the game.

7. Youth nurturing: Maresca is known for having faith in and nurturing young players, providing them with opportunities to develop and excel.

Is Enzo Maresca a good manager?

Witrh lack of extensive record on his experience Maresca's current CV as Leicester City manager is a half in half situation in deciding if he is a good manager or not. This is because although Leicester City secured qualification back to the premier league, the Foxes had almost bottled the opportunity at a particular point in the season.

With Chelsea considering the option of giving him a 5 year contract, this is a clear indication of how much the club trusts in Enzo Maresca's capabilities as a good manager.

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