Championship: Relegated Leicester name Enzo Maresca as new manager

Leicester City FC has announced the appointment of Enzo Maresca as their new manager on a deal that will run till 2026.

The 43-year-old Italian who was part of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City, was given the appointment weeks after Cityzens won a treble.

Maresca succeeds Dean Smith, who failed to prevent Leicester from being relegated from the Premier League after taking charge for the final eight games of the 2022-23 season following Brendan Rodgers’ exit.

The other options available were Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard, but Enzo Maresca strongly impressed the board and directors of Leicester during his interview and has been given the nod to lead the team in the coming season.

Commenting on his appointment, Maresca said;

“I’m very excited because of the club [I’m joining] and because we have a big season ahead of us. At the beginning, the target is to play in the best way we can.

“From there, we can build, day by day, our idea and our philosophy, and the most important thing is to try to win games.

“First of all, we’re going to give 100 percent, absolutely, because the Club deserves this. It’s our job, our duty to do that. Then, as I said, day by day, step by step, absolutely we’re going to improve.

“We have a big season ahead of us. I consider Leicester as a big club, a Premier League club. The reality in this moment says that we are a Championship club, so we need to have all the players with the same mentality thinking that we are in the Championship.

“We need to change something, and then, from there, to build something important.”

Leicester also confirmed the contracts of assistant managers Craig Shakespeare and John Terry would not be renewed.

Leicester last played in the Championship in the 2013-14 season when they won the title to gain promotion to the Premier League.