Chelsea appoint Enzo Maresca as new head coach in five-year deal

Chelsea have reached an agreement to appoint Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca as their new head coach, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian coach is set to sign a five-year contract, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until June 2029. The deal reportedly includes an extension option that takes the contract till June 2030.

Maresca’s appointment comes after a search led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart following the departure of former head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues were linked with several names, including Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town), Thomas Frank (Brentford), and Roberto De Zerbi.

However, they have ultimately opted for the relatively inexperienced Maresca, who has only managed for a season and a half at club level.

Before his stint with Leicester City, Maresca coached in Serie B with Parma, but it ended with his dismissal.

At Leicester, he turned the mood around at a dejected club, guiding them back into the top flight.

The Foxes had the second-best attack in the Championship, netting 89 goals. They also conceded the least (41). No team created more big chances than Leicester (142).

The how was more impressive than the overall result to the Chelsea hierarchy. Leicester City played possession-based positional football, which is a requirement for the Chelsea directors.

Chelsea will reportedly pay around £8-10 million in compensation to secure his release.

Under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Consortium’s leadership, Chelsea have taken another massive gamble in the coaching department after Graham Potter.

Maresca’s relative lack of experience as a head coach raises questions about his suitability for the demanding role at a club of Chelsea’s stature.

However, his impressive work with the Foxes and Chelsea’s reported belief that he aligns with their long-term vision suggests the Blues are willing to gamble on his potential.

Fans will be eager to see how Maresca fares in his new role, as there is not much of a sample size to judge his ability.

The 44-year-old will be tasked with leading the club back into the top four after two seasons away from Champions League football.