Enzo Maresca has been appointed as the new manager of Leicester City, just days after winning the treble with Manchester City.

The Italian has been working as the assistant to Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, but has decided to have another crack at management after a short-spell as the main man when he was in charge of Parma in 2021.

Maresca ready for Midlands return

Those with a long enough memory may remember Enzo Maresca starting his career as a player with West Bromwich Albion.

The former midfielder played for the Baggies between 1998 and 2000, making 47 appearances and scoring five goals during his time at the Hawthorns.

Maresca then headed back to his homeland to join Juventus, where he stayed for four years, including a couple of loan spells, before joining Fiorentina.

The former Italian Under-21 international also enjoyed spells in Spain with Sevilla and Malaga, in Greece with Olympiakos, and also with Sampdoria, Palermo and Verona.

Maresca made almost 394 senior appearances – scoring 49 goals – but has already had a varied career in coaching since 2017.

Leicester offer Maresca second chance

The 47-year-old is ready for his second stint as a manager in senior football, after his first lasted just 14 games in Serie B.

Maresca was appointed manager of Parma in May 2021 and was dismissed in November of the same year, after they failed to live up to promotion expectations.

The Italian had a 28.57% win ratio during his short spell in Emilia-Romagna - winning four, drawing five and losing five of his 14 games in charge.

Prior to that, Maresca had been working at Manchester City as manager of their Elite Development Squad and returned to the Etihad in 2022.

Following Juanma Lillo’s departure to Al-Sadd, Pep Guardiola was looking to add a new assistant to his coaching team and Maresca was handed the role.

Despite winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League – City are 2/1 to retain the European crown - this season, Maresca has decided that now is the time to go back to management

Fresh start for the Foxes

Leicester are likely to be a much different team, come August, to the side that finished the 2022/23 Premier League season.

A number of big names are expected to move on from the King Power Stadium this summer, but the Foxes are still 11/2 to be promoted back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

Youri Tielemans has also departed and the likes of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are also likely to leave now that the transfer window has opened.

Maresca’s connections, particularly at Manchester City, are something though that are likely to have appealed to the Leicester owners.

With such a big and high-quality squad, the Citizens are often keen to let some of their younger players leave on loan and some could well end up at the King Power Stadium next season.

Leicester – who are 11/4 to finish in the top two next season – will find out the task in hand in more detail next week.

bet365 News Team

• Leicester City F.C.
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