Enzo Maresca has been named as the new manager of Chelsea on a five-year contract, taking over from Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca, the Italian coach, has been announced as the new head coach of Chelsea. He has left Leicester City to take over from Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. Maresca has signed a five-year deal with the option of a sixth year, and he will officially begin his role on July 1.

In a statement, Maresca expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea, stating that it is a dream for any coach to be a part of one of the biggest clubs in the world. He looks forward to working with the talented group of players and staff at Chelsea to continue the club’s tradition of success and make the fans proud.

Maresca’s departure from Leicester comes after just one year in charge of the club. Under his guidance, Leicester achieved an immediate return to the Premier League, winning the Championship with 97 points. However, they faced some difficulties along the way, losing six out of 10 games between February and April, which resulted in them squandering a 12-point lead at the top.

Before Maresca’s appointment, several other names were linked to the top position at Chelsea, including Kieran McKenna, Roberto De Zerbi, and Thomas Frank. However, the Chelsea board ultimately decided on Maresca due to his impressive possession-based style of football.

Chelsea has reportedly paid around £10m in compensation to Leicester in order to secure Maresca’s services. The former Manchester City coach, who assisted Pep Guardiola during their treble-winning campaign, is highly regarded by Chelsea for his coaching abilities.

As for Chelsea, they are looking to improve upon an inconsistent season that saw them finish sixth in the Premier League under Pochettino. While they secured a place in Europe, their position in the UEFA Europa Conference League was confirmed after Manchester United’s victory in the FA Cup final.