BREAKING: Chelsea announce Enzo Maresca as new manager as Chelsea fans reacted
Following several days of conjecture, Enzo Maresca, a former Leicester coach, has been named Chelsea’s new manager.
The 44-year-old has been appointed to the team on an eye-catching five-year contract with a club option for a sixth year, the club has recently revealed on its official website.
There are apparently “break clauses” in the contract that allow Chelsea to end it early, so it’s a little more complicated than that. In any case, the owners and sporting directors are making a big public relations statement about their faith in the new man, who was previously in charge of Man City’s top development team.
The previous season, he guided Leicester to the Championship title by employing a unique style of possession-based football. The Foxes’ Premier League roster was able to rule the second tier, making some question the extent of that accomplishment.
As ever, sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley had their say on the move. They must be getting pretty used to this by now – this is their third permanent appointment in their two seasons in charge.
“We are delighted to welcome Enzo to Chelsea. He has proven himself to be an excellent coach capable of delivering impressive results with an exciting and identifiable style,” the pair are quoted as saying on the club’s official site.
“Enzo has deeply impressed us in our discussions leading up to his appointment. His ambitions and work ethic align with those of the club. We thoroughly look forward to working with him.”
An understandable caution from the fans
There are understandably plenty of misgivings about this move, and with what it represents about the project as a whole. But all we can do now is get behind the new coach and hope he can surprise everyone by taking this team to the next level.