Maresca’s Spanish roots and Guardiola’s nod shaped his City appointment

Enzo Maresca’s appointment as Manchester City manager was shaped by his Spanish roots and Pep Guardiola’s influence, according to those close to the club. Maresca’s Spanish influence stems from his family background and his playing career in Spain, where he was exposed to Guardiola’s Barcelona at Sevilla and Málaga during the peak years of his career.

His time in Spain also introduced him to his trusted assistant, Willy Caballero, and his children were born there, making Spanish the main language spoken at home. Maresca’s coaching philosophy mirrors Guardiola’s, with the two known to be in regular contact.

Former Manchester City and West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini, described as Maresca’s 'football father,' identified his coaching potential during Maresca’s playing days. Pellegrini’s early recognition of Maresca’s qualities laid the groundwork for his eventual transition into management.

Outgoing sporting director Txiki Begiristain recommended Maresca as Guardiola’s heir when handing over his responsibilities to Hugo Viana last summer, according to those close to the club. This endorsement underscored Maresca’s readiness to step into a top managerial role.

Maresca served as an influential figure during his single season under Guardiola, often leaning on the Spaniard for tactical innovations. During that campaign, Guardiola rebranded defender John Stones as a central midfielder, who played a starring role in the Treble-clinching Champions League final win against Inter Milan.

As head coach of City’s Elite Development Squad in the 2020-21 season, Maresca left a lasting impression on the academy. Gareth Taylor, now Liverpool’s women’s team manager and a former colleague, said: 'Enzo brought something a little bit different. He certainly had more freedom in the way he set up his teams, because previously most coaches in that environment were strictly told to follow a specific game model.'

Taylor added: 'It was as if no-one had that conversation with Enzo, but it was positive because you have to evolve - you cannot stand still tactically. At City, as long as you could back up your rationale, it would be listened to and potentially adopted.'