Chelsea have appointed Leicester boss Enzo Maresca as their new manager on a five-year deal to replace the departed Mauricio Pochettino.
The Italian, 44, caught the eye of Chelsea chiefs after leading Leicester to the Championship title last season in his first campaign at the King Power Stadium. Several candidates were linked with the Chelsea job following Pochettino’s exit after just one season in charge.
Former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna and Brentford’s Thomas Frank were reportedly in contention before the west London club decided on Maresca. Maresca, formerly on Pep Guardiola’s staff at Manchester City, will begin his new role on July 1 on a five-year contract, with a club option of a further year. Maresca, who had a brief spell in charge of Italian side Parma in 2021, will be the sixth coach to have managed the first team since Todd Boehly’s Clearlake Capital consortium bought the club two years ago.
Chelsea have spent more than £1bn on signings since Clearlake took over ownership from Roman Abramovich in May 2022. Chelsea have been trophyless for the past two seasons under a succession of managers including Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Pochettino.
Mourinho dreaming of winning Turkish league with Fenerbahce
Jose Mourinho said he was dreaming of winning the Turkish Super Lig with new club Fenerbahce but that he is making “no promises” during a press conference that was followed online by more than 80,000 people.
Mourinho was speaking from Fenerbahce’s headquarters after he was appointed coach of the Istanbul-based club on Sunday. “No promises. But is obvious that the main target, the main dream is to win the Turkish Super Lig,” said the 61-year-old.
Last season, Fenerbahce missed out on the league title to arch-rivals Galatasaray by three points despite finishing on a total of 99 across the 38-game campaign. The club’s last league title dates back to 2014. “But step-by-step we see, hopefully we are going to be in the new Champions League,” added Mourinho, who will be tasked with guiding Fenerbahce through second round qualifying before the new, expanded version of European football’s premier competition begins next season.
Mourinho boasts five European titles, including two Champions Leagues, across his managerial career with Inter Milan, Porto, Manchester United and Roma. The Portuguese also confirmed the length of his contract at Fenerbahce, which will be for a duration of two years.