Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea's defensive risks in new playing style
Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that playing out from the back comes with risks that will inevitably lead to his side conceding goals.
Maresca won Serie A and the Supercoppa Italiana while playing for Juventus, but his most successful years came with Sevilla, where he won the Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Cup twice in his four-year stay.
After stints as assistant manager at Ascoli, Sevilla and West Ham, the Italian coach's first role at Manchester City was in August 2020 when he was manager of their Elite Development Squad team.
After winning the Premier League 2 title with the development squad, he was hired as the new head coach of Parma, who played in Serie B in the 2021/22 season.
In June 2024, Maresca became the sixth coach to have managed Chelsea since Todd Boehly assumed control of the club in May 2022.
Maresca stayed in England for just over a year, making 47 appearances and scoring five goals, before returning to Italy with Juventus in a transfer worth £4.3m - a club record sale for Albion at the time.
In the summer of 2004, he joined Fiorentina for a fee of €13m alongside Fabrizio Miccoli and Giorgio Chiellini in a package deal. Juventus held on to half of the players' rights and after Fiorentina just avoided relegation, The Old Lady bought all three back for about €6.7m.
It wasn't long though before he ended his spell in Italy and moved to Sevilla for a transfer fee of €2.5m in July 2005.
Maresca's goal contributions and appearances would go down over the next couple of seasons before he headed to Olympiacos for the 2009/10 season.
Maresca hit the ground running at Leicester and swiftly steered the club to the top of the Championship, claiming the manager of the month trophy in August, October and December on the way.
Despite stumbling towards the end of the campaign, Leicester secured the Championship title after a 3-0 win at Preston on April 29, with a game to spare in the 2023/24 season.
On June 3, 2024, Chelsea appointed Maresca as their new head coach on a five-year contract.
In what is the third permanent managerial appointment since Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium bought the club two years ago, Maresca was installed in place of Mauricio Pochettino, who left by mutual consent in May.
Maresca will be the sixth coach to have managed the first team since Boehly assumed control.
Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, said: “We are delighted to welcome Enzo to Chelsea. He has proven himself to be an excellent coach capable of delivering impressive results with an exciting and identifiable style.
“Enzo has deeply impressed us in our discussions leading up to his appointment. His ambitions and work ethic align with those of the club. We thoroughly look forward to working with him.”
Maresca added: “To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach. It is why I am so excited by this opportunity.
“I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud.”
Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that playing out from the back comes with risks that will inevitably lead to his side conceding goals.
New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca does not expect the return of Enzo Fernandez to club duty next week to disrupt the Chelsea squad.
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca believes it's crucial to work on the club's culture after two difficult years in the Premier League.
Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has said he left the club in a stronger position than he found it after his exit from Stamford Bridge.
From winning over the squad to tightening the defence, new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca certainly has a lot on his plate as he arrives at Stamford Bridge.
Enzo Maresca has been confirmed as the third permanent appointment of Todd Boehly’s tumultuous two-year ownership of Chelsea, following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.
Enzo Maresca has signed a five-year contract to take over the head coach role at Chelsea, following Mauricio Pochettino's exit.