Chelsea: Enzo Maresca to be unveiled on Monday after signing five-year deal to become head coach | Football news

Chelsea are set to confirm Enzo Maresca as their new head coach on Monday.

The 44-year-old, who will succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, has agreed a five-year contract and will move from Leicester after leading them back into the Premier League by winning the Championship.

Maresca was Chelsea’s number one choice after a shortlist was drawn up with Brentford boss Thomas Frank, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi.

The Italian’s release clause from the King Power Stadium is understood to have been between £8m and £10m.

Maresca takes six members of his backroom staff with him from Leicester, including former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Cabellero.

Chelsea co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart led the recruitment process after being entrusted by co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly.

They traveled to Marbella for face-to-face talks with Maresca after Leicester gave the go-ahead to start talks.

Chelsea have been impressed by the depth and breadth of Maresca’s knowledge of their squad in discussions with his representatives, as well as his focus on how Chelsea want to play and his desire for the job.

Maresca’s obsession with possession and positional play made him the leading candidate to replace Pochettino, who left by mutual consent.

The length of the contract reflects Chelsea’s focus on bringing long-term success back to the club and ends any future speculation about renewals.

Senior Chelsea staff believe the new head coach will be the final piece of the puzzle to fit into the modern new structure they have built at the club.

The West London club expect to be busy in the transfer market this summer with players coming and going. The transaction will likely have the signing of a new No. 9 and centre-back, while the futures of high earners such as Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabalaga must be resolved.

“Chelsea feels Maresca is the one for them”

Sky Sports News Chief Reporter Kaveh Solhekol:

“Chelsea had a very thorough process with Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank and Roberto De Zerbi all considered, but I feel Maresca is the right fit for them.

“The others were very impressive candidates, but Chelsea feel at the moment that Maresca is the man for them and shares their vision for the future.

“He was only a coach for a season and a half. He was manager at Parma in the Italian second division and then he got the job at Leicester.

“There were some problems behind the scenes and not all Leicester fans were completely happy with him, even though he promoted them back to the Premier League.

“There have been recruitment issues and issues with Leicester being charged for allegedly breaching the PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) and they are also under a transfer embargo from the EFL.

“There have been problems, but Chelsea just want a head coach. They want someone to coach the first team and deal with the media. Otherwise, I feel they’ve got it sorted.

“You have to remember that Mikel Arteta had no previous experience of being in charge in the Premier League before joining Arsenal, but he worked under Pep Guardiola, who is exactly the same as Maresca.

“I’m not saying he’s a better manager than Arteta, but he has more experience than he had when he took over at Arsenal.

“Don’t underestimate the Pep effect. If you’ve worked under Guardiola, you have a head start when going for such jobs, however, you still need to impress, which Maresca did during these talks.

“I’m told his knowledge of the Chelsea team, including the youth team players, is encyclopedic.”

Why Chelsea are willing to risk Maresca

Despite managing less than 70 senior games, just 53 in England and none in the Premier League, Maresca is set to become Pochettino’s successor at Stamford Bridge, you write. Sam Blitz and Ron Walker. Even so, it arrives with high expectations.

The 44-year-old will take over in similar circumstances to when Claudio Ranieri arrived in 2000 – with demands to reach the Champions League.

Pochettino’s surprise departure from Stamford Bridge was largely down to the Blues missing out on the top four. Chelsea fans watched last month’s Champions League semi-finals wondering why such a stage was out of the club’s reach.

But despite his relative inexperience, Chelsea do not see Maresca as just a coach capable of bringing them into European club competition. They want an attractive style of football based on possession and dominance.

His attachment and upbringing in Pep Guardiola’s philosophy plays an important role in their thinking. A Manchester City-lite style of play is what Maresca brought to Leicester during his year at the King Power.

The same patient play that places Guardiola’s side bottom of the Premier League for forward pass proportion year-on-year was embedded almost overnight – in the Championship only Southampton’s percentage was lower than last season’s of Leicester.

“Maresca is so embedded in that Guardiola style of play that he was always going to attract interest when he was able to make that style successful – and that’s what he did at Leicester,” said Leicester correspondent Jordan Blackwell. Leicester Mercurysaid Sky Sports.

“It felt like the club thought outside the box to bring in Maresca, a man of great tactical knowledge whose acumen was delighted. That’s not just as Pep’s assistant, but with Man City U21s and a first-team coach at West. Ham.”

What is the top of Maresca’s Chelsea tray?

Head coach almost in the bag, Chelsea’s attention now turns to improving Maresca’s squad, writes Joe Shread. Despite signing two goalkeepers last summer, the Blues want a new no. 1 – not surprising considering of Djordje Petrovic frailties.

The departure of Thiago Silva requires the signing of a new centre-back. Tosin Adarabioyowho is out of contract at Fulham, has been offered a deal but is also wanted by Newcastle.

Reece James and of Ben Chilwell without end Injury problems could prompt Chelsea to target new full-backs as their search for a proven No.9 continues – despite spending a combined £84million on strikers Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku last summer.

Jackson showed flashes of promise during his debut season – scoring 14 goals in 31 starts – but is not the reliable target man Chelsea have been crying out for, perhaps dating back to the departure of Diego Costa in 2017.

The Boehly-Clearlake property has sanctioned more than £1bn of transfer spending since arriving two years ago. Expect this to continue.