Enzo Maresca has reached a Verbal Agreement to become Leicester’s new manager days after helping Manchester City win an historic Treble.
The Italian, who has left Pep Guardiola’s staff to join the newly-relegated Championship club, is expected to sign a three-year deal, having been identified at an early stage by Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
The official announcement has still to be made but Mail Sport understands the Foxes are no longer looking at alternatives.
Maresca will be back in the English second tier 23 years after leaving West Bromwich Albion for Juventus in January 2000. He is highly rated as a coach having worked under both Guardiola and Manuel Pellegrini, the former City and West Ham boss.
Leicester have been without a permanent manager since sacking Brendan Rodgers on April 2, with interim boss Dean Smith unable to keep the club in the Premier League during his eight-game stint.
Enzo Maresca has reached a verbal agreement to takeover Leicester on a three-year deal
The highly-regarded coach has worked under both Pep Guardiola and Manuel Pellegrini
Dean Smith was unable to keep Leicester in the Premier League in his eight-game stint in charge
Smith and Scott Parker were among the contenders considered by the Foxes to lead the club back to the top flight, with Maresca’s claims also assessed by the board.
The Italian has been a first-team manager only once – a 14-game spell at Parma in 2021 – but is highly regarded by Guardiola.
He was part of the Catalan’s staff as City completed a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble, after also taking charge of City’s Under-23s, leading them to a Premier League 2 title in 2021.
Maresca was also on Southampton’s shortlist, with the relegated Saints appointing Russell Martin, while he is said to have attracted interest from Celtic.
