The former Italian Under-21 international, who was appointed late last month, enjoyed a stellar playing career, tasting success with both Juventus and Sevilla amongst others before then embarking on his coaching career in 2017.
After spells with Ascoli in his native Italy and Spanish giants Sevilla, more latterly Maresca was a highly respected member of Manuel Pellegrini’s coaching staff during the Chilean’s tenure at West Ham United.
Now, after having undergone a spell of quarantine and working remotely, Maresca is ready to embark on his new role in earnest with our EDS squad launching the new Premier League 2 campaign at home to Derby on Saturday.
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As he looked ahead to the challenge, the 40-year-old said he couldn’t be more excited about the challenge and prospects of working with the group.
And he made it clear he was targeting both individual growth and development as well as seeking collective success with the squad as a whole
“I am very happy about the new role. Especially because I have joined a big club, a big family,” Maresca declared.
“I am very proud that they have decided to bring me into the family and for personally it’s a very good moment and time. I have the chance to learn new things and to try to make a very good season with the team.
“In this moment, my main target and duty is to help all the guys to improve and grow in the right way professionally. This is my main target – just to try to help them develop and grow.
“One of my first ideas is to try to improve them as single players and as a team and in the same moment just to try to see if we can reach some important targets as a team - in the Premier League 2 season, in the UEFA Champions Youth League and in the EFL Trophy.
“We are going to see but, absolutely, one of the aims is try to accomplish some important targets.”
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After a wide-ranging playing career that as well seeing him win significant silverware including the Serie A, the Italian Super Cup, two UEFA Cups and the Copa del Rey, Maresca also experienced life in England as a player with West Brom at the outset of his career.
Looking to his new role, he said he was keen to help impart his own experience and knowledge onto his young charges in a bid to help them grow and develop.
And Maresca believes his own personal experiences from a career that has seen him operate both as a player and coach in several different European countries will also prove invaluable.
“When you have a past life as a player you can understand maybe some of the moments you also have lived as a player. That’s why it’s important – this is my main target to try to help them to grow,” Maresca added.
“I also love English football. I came here first 20 years ago as a player with West Brom, then I spent almost the last two years at West Ham as an assistant coach.
“But, to be honest, I love Italian football, Spanish football – every country has a different culture about football and about life. They are all different, but in the end we are all in love with football
“I do think when you move a lot and I have as player and as a coach - I’ve already worked in three different countries as a coach - you can always see things in a different way and you can learn a lot.
“In the squad I can bring my experience as a player but first of all as a coach and I will try always to give them the right solution and to help them in every different situation.
“As I say, I’m very excited about starting to work with the guys. You can imagine how excited I can be.
“First of all me for me I’m very proud about starting here. I’m sure it will be a good time and a time to learn for me and the players and it can be absolutely be a good year for all of us.”
