The 2023–24 season saw Maresca take over at Leicester City, where he led the Foxes to the EFL Championship title and promotion to the Premier League.
The following year, he took the reins at Chelsea, guiding the club to the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League title—his second as a manager—and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, securing a spot in the Champions League. His third and most prestigious triumph came shortly after, with Chelsea crowned champions of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Style of Play (As a Player)
During his playing days, Maresca was known as a versatile, consistent, energetic, and hard-working midfielder. He was capable of playing in various roles across the midfield, though he often operated as a deep-lying playmaker, orchestrating attacks and creating opportunities.
His preferred role, however, was as a box-to-box midfielder—either centrally or in a more advanced position—where he showcased his attacking instincts, goal-scoring sense, and late runs into the penalty area. He could also thrive as a mezzala, a role that blends width and creativity.
Maresca was dynamic and inventive, with excellent movement, technical ability, and composure on the ball.
He possessed strong vision, tactical awareness, and passing range. His stamina, tenacity, and high work rate also made him reliable in defensive duties.
Managerial Philosophy
Maresca’s tactical philosophy has been heavily influenced by his mentor Pep Guardiola, under whom he worked at Manchester City. He also draws on his experience as a player under top managers like Marcello Lippi, Carlo Ancelotti, and Manuel Pellegrini.
Dubbed "Marescaball" by the media, his style is rooted in balance—focusing on possession-based play, creating chances, scoring goals, and building from the back, all while maintaining defensive solidity.
In his Coverciano coaching thesis titled “Football and Chess,” Maresca emphasized the importance of positional play and strategic thinking, stating in a 2021 interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport:
“What matters most is positional play and strategy. A coach should think like a chess player: develop a plan, anticipate counter-moves, and organize the players accordingly.”
His teams typically line up in a 4–3–3 or occasionally a 4–2–3–1, which transforms into a 3–5–2 in possession.
The right-back inverts into midfield, while central midfielders push higher up the pitch to gain numerical superiority during attacking phases.
Off the ball, his sides employ aggressive man-to-man counter-pressing to win the ball back high up the field. If pressing fails, they fall back into a structured 4–4–2 defensive block.
Maresca's managerial style has often drawn comparisons to Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, particularly in his tactical discipline and offensive structure.***