Manchester City are set to appoint Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor, ending a decade of Catalan dominance at the Etihad. The Italian spent 18 months as Chelsea boss after graduating from Guardiola's coaching staff, winning the Conference League and Club World Cup. Maresca's path mirrors Arteta's rise from City's academy to managerial success, though he carries a more combustible reputation.

His Chelsea tenure ended in January after fracturing with the hierarchy, though he transformed the side into a possession-based 4-2-3-1 outfit. Chelsea expect compensation for his departure, but figures remain unresolved. Behdad Eghbali, the club's owner, said publicly that the exit wasn't his decision. Guardiola himself has endorsed Maresca, feeling the Italian never received adequate credit for his work at Stamford Bridge.

Succeeding Guardiola demands navigating an almost unreal standard: twenty trophies, four consecutive Premier League titles, a treble, and multiple doubles. City's Abu Dhabi owners have reportedly done exhaustive due diligence before rubber-stamping the appointment. Some question whether Maresca serves as a short-term bridge to eventually hiring Vincent Kompany.