In a surprising turn of events, Enzo Maresca, former Leicester City manager, has been announced as the new Chelsea manager. Maresca, who successfully guided Leicester City back to the Premier League, has decided to leave after just one season and take on what some consider a difficult task at Chelsea.

At 44 years old, Maresca will become the fifth manager for Chelsea since the start of the 2022-23 season and the seventh permanent boss in just five years. Mauricio Pochettino, his predecessor, left by mutual consent despite leading Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, European football qualification, and a domestic cup final.

The decision to leave Leicester and join Chelsea, a club that spent a staggering £747m on transfers during the 2022-23 campaign and has faced numerous challenges in recent years, has raised eyebrows. However, it seems Maresca's choice was influenced by the opportunity to manage two former Champions League-winning teams, as he also had an offer from Porto.

While promotion with Leicester City brought joy to Maresca, he became aware of possible Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues at the club after the season had begun. Moreover, a disappointing January transfer window, including the unexpected recall of Cesare Casadei by Chelsea, created further conflict.

Despite these challenges, Maresca persevered. However, his decision to join Chelsea was not solely based on disillusionment with Leicester. Maresca's profile in the competitive market played a significant role, and he has been chosen to bring improvements to a potentially top club like Chelsea.

As Maresca takes on the managerial role at Chelsea, he will be stepping into a more stable environment compared to when Pochettino started his tenure. Pochettino departed due to excessive interference from the owners, which many believed hindered the work of the coaches. Maresca, a manager who values empathy and understanding, must ensure that this interference does not impede his work.

Despite the disappointment from Leicester fans, Maresca's arrival at Chelsea is likely to be well-received. Known for his high-tempo, pressing style of play similar to Pochettino's, he will have the opportunity to work with a talented squad. His aim will be to continue the progress and culture instilled by Pochettino, both on and off the pitch.

For Maresca, the priority is stability and the chance to implement his football ideology rather than immediate success. While the Leicester fans may feel let down, Chelsea supporters are eager to witness the new manager's style and expect him to quickly win them over.

The move to Chelsea will also keep Maresca and his family in England, although they had grown comfortable in Leicester. Despite the title-winning euphoria, Maresca recognized that Leicester's primary goal for the upcoming season would be avoiding relegation.

As Maresca embraces the challenge as the new Chelsea manager, football enthusiasts eagerly await the unfolding of his tenure and the impact he will have on the club's fortunes.