Enzo Maresca Contacted By Surprise Club Just One Month After Chelsea Sacking

Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been approached over a return to one of his former clubs, although the proposed deal would only run until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Maresca parted ways with Chelsea on New Year's Day following a poor run of form, as well as a reported deterioration in his relationship with the club's hierarchy.

The 45-year-old, who boasted a win percentage of 59.8 per cent during his spell at Stamford Bridge, was accused of being disrespectful towards Chelsea after holding talks with representatives from Manchester City.

Maresca, who worked with City's under-21 team during the 2020-21 season before joining Pep Guardiola's coaching staff, spoke to representatives regarding the managerial position on numerous occasions.

In fact, Maresca told Chelsea in late October and again in mid-December that he was talking to people associated with City.

As well as the above, officials believed the Italian lacked 'mental fortitude and emotional maturity' and went against the advice of the medical team at Chelsea on a number of occasions, according to Sky Sports.

Since his Chelsea departure, Maresca has been linked with a number of roles, including the Real Madrid job after they decided to sack Xabi Alonso.

Now, former club Leicester City have been in contact with the manager over a potential return to the King Power, 18 months after he left the Foxes to join Chelsea.

The Championship club recently sacked Marti Cifuentes following a six-month spell in charge before appointing club legend Andy King as their interim manager.

But the Foxes want Maresca to take over on a short-term deal until the end of the season, according to a report from The Mirror, which claims a 'lucrative incentive-based package' has been offered to the Italian.

The report adds: "Leicester are hoping for a positive response from Maresca having not ruled themselves out of a late challenge for a promotion play-off spot."

Maresca has been approached about the Leicester job. Image credit: Getty

As mentioned above, Leicester parted ways with Marti Cifuentes towards the end of last month. He led the club to 11 defeats in 29 league games, placing them in the bottom half of the Championship table.

After they suffered defeat against Charlton on Saturday, interim manager Andy King was asked if relegation is a concern.

He said: "Yeah, potentially. I don’t think we can get away from the fact that we’re not where we want to be in the table. But let’s start looking up, let’s try to reverse the momentum and look up rather than down and see how far it takes us."

King added: “My remit was to do Charlton. I’ve not looked too far ahead past that. But let’s look up rather than down.”