The appointment marks Maresca's third spell at the club, having previously led City's Elite Development Squad to the Premier League 2 title in 2020/21 and served as an assistant coach to Guardiola during the historic Treble-winning campaign of 2022/23. He arrives from Chelsea, where he guided the club to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the Europa Conference League.
Maresca made clear his enthusiasm for the challenge and his connection to the club.
"Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me," he said. "City is an incredibly well-run football club. Everything they do is innovative, planned and purposeful.
"For a manager, that is a dream situation. It provides the consistency I need to do my job effectively. This will be my third spell here.
"I know this Club, I know the demands and I know the expectations. The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability. I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City."
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak spoke of a natural fit between manager and club.
"Enzo is someone who has always sought out opportunities to challenge himself and succeed in his managerial career," Khaldoon said. "He brings a personality, passion and intelligence completely aligned to our needs. He is re-joining an organisation that is entirely in lock-step with his ambition and hunger for achievement and his return to Manchester City is therefore a welcome natural next step for both him and the Club. Enzo inherits a squad and football organisation perfectly suited to reflect and evolve his brand of football, and we are all very much looking forward to seeing the impact he can have in building further on the Club's success. Welcome home Enzo."
Maresca's playing career took him to Juventus, West Brom, Sevilla, Malaga and Olympiakos among others, winning the Serie A title, two UEFA Cups, a UEFA Super League and the Copa del Rey. As a manager he also won the Championship title with Leicester City in 2022/23 before moving to Chelsea.
He inherits a squad Khaldoon has described as combining youthful talent with elite experience — a blend the chairman believes is well-suited to Maresca's approach to football.