Manchester City have yet to officially confirm Maresca as Pep Guardiola's replacement while chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak finalises compensation terms with Chelsea, who sacked Maresca in January.
Maresca has nonetheless agreed a three-year deal and wasted no time getting to work, studying data on every member of his new squad to help shape his approach to pre-season training when players return next month.
Those returning later will include players involved in the World Cup in North America. Maresca is also set to meet senior club figures next week to discuss the expectations being placed on him.
Guardiola stood down last summer, having kept his decision private for months, with only a small circle of close associates aware he would leave at the end of the season. City targeted Maresca six months ago as it became clear he would be available following his dismissal by Chelsea.
Guardiola's tenure produced a remarkable 20 trophies, including the Treble in 2023, the scale of which leaves Maresca with an almost impossible act to follow.
The scale of the challenge ahead of Maresca is stark. Succeeding a manager of Guardiola's standing at a club built entirely around his methods demands not just tactical quality but the ability to reshape an identity that has been defining for a decade. His work this week — immersed in data before a single training session — suggests he is approaching it with the seriousness the role demands.
City's players will return to pre-season at different points as the World Cup reaches its knockout stages. Maresca will use the time until then to ensure his preparation is as thorough as possible before the real work begins.