Enzo Maresca, the newly appointed manager of Chelsea, may not have an obvious connection to the club, but he actually has a strong link to former Chelsea boss Graham Potter. Both Maresca and Potter were teammates at West Bromwich Albion in the late 1990s. In fact, Potter used to give Maresca a lift to training when he first joined the club on a free transfer from Cagliari.
Maresca’s journey to Chelsea began when he was scouted by Denis Smith, the manager of West Brom at the time. Smith was impressed with Maresca’s talent and signed him as a teenager. Despite his limited English skills, Maresca quickly adapted to his new environment and showcased his intelligence on the field. According to Smith, Maresca had a knack for reading the game and was a versatile midfielder who excelled both defensively and offensively.
After a successful stint at West Brom, Maresca was sold to Juventus for a club-record fee of £4 million. Smith attributes Maresca’s success to his intelligence and ability to adapt, noting that not many players from Europe made their way to the First Division (now the Championship) in the 90s. Maresca’s move to England at such a young age was bold, but his intelligence made it an easy transition.
Maresca’s intelligence and footballing acumen continued to shine throughout his playing career. He won Serie A with Juventus and two UEFA Cups with Sevilla. After retiring as a player, he joined Manchester City as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants, where he learned from one of the best in the business.
Maresca’s coaching career began at Italian minnows Ascoli before he was recruited by Manchester City to manage their Elite Development Squad. He guided the youth team to the Premier League 2 title before taking on his first senior job at Parma. Unfortunately, his tenure at Parma was short-lived, and he was sacked after failing to meet expectations.
However, Maresca bounced back when he was appointed as the manager of Leicester City after their relegation. He made an immediate impact, leading the team to the Championship title. Maresca’s dedication to the job was evident when he chose to live at the training ground for the first two months after his appointment.
Despite his success at Leicester, Maresca’s patient, possession-based style of play did not resonate with the club’s fans. Some accused him of being too stubborn with his tactics and too slow to make substitutions. The fans longed for the exciting and fast-paced style of play that they had become accustomed to during Leicester’s title-winning season under Claudio Ranieri.
Now, as Maresca takes charge at Chelsea, it remains to be seen how the notoriously impatient Chelsea fans will react to his style of play. However, one thing that both Leicester fans and Chelsea fans can look forward to is Maresca’s man-management skills and attention to detail. His ability to deliver messages to players in simple terms without over-complicating the game is a trait that he shares with Potter.
In conclusion, Enzo Maresca’s appointment as Chelsea manager may come as a surprise to some, but his journey from West Brom to Juventus and his coaching experience under Pep Guardiola have prepared him for this opportunity. While his playing style may not have been appreciated by all Leicester fans, his intelligence and ability to adapt make him a promising manager for Chelsea.