KLIK SAJA - Since the 1990s, English club Chelsea has always carried a distinct Italian flavor.
This “Italian tradition” began in 1996 with the arrival of Gianfranco Zola, whose charm and influence ushered in a wave of fellow Italians at Stamford Bridge.
From players to managers like Roberto Di Matteo, who famously led Chelsea to their first-ever Champions League title in 2012, the Italian touch has long played a role in shaping Chelsea's identity.
Now, that tradition has found new life—and silverware—under Enzo Maresca, the latest Italian to bring success to West London.
Once doubted for his lack of top-flight managerial experience, the coach from the land of pizza defied expectations, finishing the season with two major trophies.
This year, Chelsea under Maresca endured a turbulent campaign in the Premier League, but finished strong—winning the UEFA Conference League and capping it all off with a stunning 3-0 victory over PSG to claim the FIFA Club World Cup.
Who is Enzo Maresca?
Born on February 10, 1980, Enzo Maresca began his professional career in 1998 with West Bromwich Albion. He went on to play for several clubs in Italy, including Juventus, who loaned him out twice during his contract but with whom he won the Serie A title in 2002.
After leaving Juventus in 2004, he spent a season with Fiorentina before moving to Spain, where he played in La Liga with Sevilla for four years and later Málaga. Across both clubs, he made 134 appearances and scored 17 goals, winning five major trophies with Sevilla. In between his stints in Spain, Maresca also spent a year in Greece with Olympiacos.
In 2012, he returned to Italy and played until his retirement in 2017, finishing with 140 Serie A appearances and 17 goals.
Maresca represented Italy at youth level, including the Under-21 team, but never made a senior appearance for the national side.
The Start of a Coaching Journey
Following his retirement, Maresca began coaching as an assistant at Ascoli under Fulvio Fiorin for the 2017–18 Serie B season. He later managed Manchester City’s U-23 team, guiding them to the Premier League 2 title in 2020–21.
His first professional managerial role came in 2021 with Parma in Serie B, though his tenure was cut short. In 2022, he returned to Manchester City as part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff.
