The Italian has been appointed as successor to Pep Guardiola and has signed a three-year contract.
Maresca takes up the managerial reins in the wake of an unprecedent decade of success under Guardiola, one which cemented City’s standing as one of the global game’s truly elite clubs.
Maresca arrives having enjoyed great success in his previous senior managerial roles at both Chelsea and Leicester City.
He is also well accustomed to City thanks to two previous spells at the Club, the first as Lead Coach of our Elite Development Squad whom he led to a maiden Premier League 2 title, the second as a key part of Guardiola’s coaching staff across the historic 2022/23 Treble season.
And speaking in his first interview since being appointed, the 46-year-old made plain how much he is relishing the challenge and opportunity of seeking to extend City’s remarkable record of success and silverware.
“It’s a huge challenge, for many reasons. All the success over the last 10 to 15 years, but at the same moment it’s a nice challenge,” Maresca said.
“It’s exciting because the target is to continue or carry on the last decade or the last years that everything was very nice.
“I’m very excited, very excited for many reasons. The first one is how big the Club is, so this for sure has been one of the reasons why.
“This is the third time [I am working here at City] – hopefully it’s the last time I come back and I don’t leave anymore!”
Armed with the crucial internal knowledge of City’s philosophy and holistic approach to the game thanks to those previous spells at the Club, Maresca added that his job would be one of evolution rather than revolution.
And he said the fact that he had already developed excellent working relationships both with key members of the Club’s hierarchy as well as many of the current first team squad was also invaluable.
“Absolutely, yes. It’s much more easy when you join a club or a place where [you] connect with the people, and know already the people inside the building,” Maresca added.
“I know most of the people in terms of squad, in terms of players I probably will find four or five players from the season the last time I was here.
“But I think it’s much more easy for me, but for any manager to join a club where you already know people.
“The leadership group and players and people inside the building.
“Probably the reason why I’m here is also because the idea from the Club is to maintain the same style of football, the same idea and we’re going to try to do the most important thing in football which is [to] try to win, [and] to achieve important things.
“Then the day-by-day is also going to dictate the way I will work.”
