Enzo Maresca's first words as new Chelsea manager: 'This is a dream'

Enzo Maresca has described his appointment as Chelsea’s new head coach as the dream move.

The 44-year-old Italian has now officially completed his switch from Leicester to Chelsea, on a five-year contract.

Chelsea have heavily backed Maresca as the forward-thinking coach they believe can lead the Blues into a new era of success under the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital ownership.

The Blues have even retained a club option of one extra year on his long-term contract, such is the belief that Boehly, Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano hold in their new manager.

Maresca has beaten Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, ex-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Brentford’s Thomas Frank to the Chelsea job, and revealed his delight in sealing the deal.

“To join Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, is a dream for any coach,” said the former West Brom, Juventus and Sevilla midfielder.

“It is why I am so excited by this opportunity. I look forward to working with a very talented group of players and staff to develop a team that continues the club’s tradition of success and makes our fans proud.”

Chelsea’s owners have craved a talented but developing coach around whom to build their Stamford Bridge tenure ever since buying the Blues from Roman Abramovich in May 2022. The Boehly-Clearlake administration had hoped that Graham Potter could be that man, but the ex-Brighton boss lasted just 206 days in the hotseat.

Chelsea’s new owners have composed their preferred footballing structure off the field since then however, and are now confident in the strength of their setup.

Eghbali played a key role in the early work towards recruiting Maresca, before co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart thrashed out the detail.

Winstanley and Stewart had proposed Maresca as their first choice for the Blues job, and after internal discussions the entire Chelsea hierarchy agreed.

Maresca cut his coaching teeth working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, first as Under-23s coach, then as assistant manager.

Chelsea believe his possession-based style and his preferred tactical approach will prove an excellent fit with the Stamford Bridge squad.