Where Will Enzo Maresca Go Next? Clubs That Can Match His Vision

There were many behind-the-scenes situations at Chelsea that led to Enzo Maresca resignation. As we said a few weeks ago, his outburst against the club at the press conference after the 2-0 win against Everton was a clear sign of an irreparable rift. Now, several clubs are dreaming of the arrival of the italian coach.

Why the Chelsea Project Finally Collapsed Around Enzo Maresca

If you take away a manager’s freedom to choose, start setting limits and interfere in team selection, a split is inevitable. This seems strange, given that Maresca was offered a five-year contract based on a project to launch young talent and develop the Academy. However, as we know, there is little room for long-term projects in today’s football. If these projects do exist, they must be backed up by everyday victories.

Despite winning the UEFA Conference League in May and the more prestigious Club World Cup the following month, one win in seven Premier League games was enough to ruin everything built at Stamford Bridge in the last year and a half.

This season, he and his agent had informed the club on two occasions of interest from Manchester City – bear in mind that even Pep Guardiola had said that Maresca was the best manager in the league. The italian had also notified the club of interest from Juventus, as well as his willingness to stay despite interest from two of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Why Maresca Wants More Than a Bench

Maresca knew that he had little room for choices in terms of transfer policy. Nevertheless the perception of his work with a young group was underrated. Maresca also did not expect decisions on team selection to be influenced. But at Chelsea, the project is king, and the club are more comfortable seeing another manager slot in, rather than ceding any control.

This brings us to our next point. Which team in the current Serie A is willing to give him this level of control? One factor that hastened the split was his belief that he deserved the same support as per Mikel Arteta at Arsenal or Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool. Everything suggests that he will join Manchester City as Guardiola’s successor. However, if the circumstances surrounding his departure from Chelsea have a negative influence on the Citizens’ decision to sign him, where could he go?

City, Serie A, or…? Where Could He Go Now?

Enzo Maresca wore several shirts during his playing career, and he could wear some of them again — but as a coach this time.

AC Milan, where Enzo Maresca took his first steps as a young player, has improved under Max Allegri’s guidance. However, the Rossoneri directors may wish to speed up the process of finding and hiring a “next-level” manager to establish AC Milan as one of the top clubs in the new era of football.

Juventus is the most obvious choice. He is one of the Juventus fans favourite. Spalletti’s contract expires in six months creates the perfect conditions for a new love story in Turin. Moreover, with Yildiz’s contract due for renewal soon and the Turkish player being one of Chelsea’s targets, Maresca could be the right man to start the definitive project around him.

However, there is another chance for him: Seville. Maresca won two Europa Leagues with the Spanish club (in 2005–06 and 2006–07), becoming one of the fans’ favourites.