Enzo Maresca, sacked by Chelsea just weeks ago, has been approached by his former club Leicester City about a dramatic return to King Power Stadium.
The Foxes, currently battling in the EFL Championship, are reportedly making a move for Maresca to spark a vital push for a top-six finish.
This news, reported by Sky Sports, citing the Daily Mirror, comes on Sunday, February 1, 2026, and would mark a swift reunion for a manager whose tenure at Chelsea ended abruptly on New Year’s Day.
A Rapid Fall from European Glory
Maresca’s departure from Stamford Bridge was a shock to many, despite a recent slump. He’d only joined Chelsea in summer 2024 on a five-year deal, with an option for another year. His time there began with significant success.
The 2024-25 season saw Chelsea finish fourth in the Premier League, securing Champions League qualification. They also lifted the Conference League trophy and, notably, won the Club World Cup in 2025, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final. That’s a lot of silverware in a short time.
But then things turned sour. The trigger for his New Year’s Day 2026 dismissal came after a dismal run of one win in seven Premier League matches.
Liam Rosenior was quickly appointed as his replacement. It was a brutal end for Maresca at a club where he’d won multiple trophies. People don’t forget that kind of success, or that kind of swift exit.
Leicester’s Desperate Call for a Familiar Face
Back at Leicester, things haven’t been smooth since Maresca left. The club is struggling in the Championship, far from the heights they reached under him. They recently sacked manager Marti Cifuentes in late January 2026.
Club legend Andy King stepped in as interim manager. The Foxes are looking for something, anything, to reignite their season. And they want to target a top-six finish if Maresca accepts the role, sources say.
The call to Maresca isn’t just sentimental. He led Leicester to the 2023-24 Championship title and promotion to the Premier League. That season, his football got results. The memories of that triumph are fresh.
Leicester needs someone who knows the club, knows the league, and knows how to win. Goal.com reported the contact, highlighting the drama of his potential return.
Unfinished Business and Underlying Tensions
Maresca himself seemed to hint at issues at Chelsea before his sacking. After a win against Everton in December 2025, he made comments suggesting internal strife.
He reportedly said, “This is reason why praise the with so problems they doing very a complicated. Since joined the, the last 48 hours have been the worst because many people didn’t support us.”
These words, reported by 90min, pointed to tensions with Chelsea ownership. A manager needs full backing, and he clearly felt he wasn’t getting it there.
Now, just a month after that dramatic exit, Leicester comes calling. There are no official statements yet from Leicester, Maresca, or Chelsea regarding this approach. It’s all based on reports citing the Daily Mirror.
But the idea of Maresca back at King Power, trying to save Leicester’s season, has to excite some fans. He’s a former Juventus and Sevilla midfielder, he knows the game. His success with Leicester was no fluke. They want that magic back, and they want it fast.
