Enzo Maresca Approached Over Shock Return to Championship Strugglers Leicester One Month on From Surprise Chelsea Sacking

Leicester City Sound Out Enzo Maresca as Championship Crisis Deepens

Just one month on from his surprise dismissal at Chelsea, Enzo Maresca is already being linked with an unexpected return to familiar surroundings. According to reports, Leicester City have made contact with their former manager as they search for a way out of an increasingly worrying Championship campaign.

The Foxes, who lifted the Premier League title less than a decade ago, currently find themselves drifting in the wrong direction in England’s second tier. Following the sacking of Marti Cifuentes, Leicester have turned to club legend Andy King on an interim basis, but behind the scenes the board are understood to be exploring more permanent and ambitious options. One name that has quickly resurfaced is Maresca — the man who guided Leicester back to the Premier League in 2024.

For Maresca, it is a curious twist of fate. After leaving the King Power Stadium for what appeared to be a dream job at Chelsea, he is now unemployed and being asked whether he might consider returning to a club in far more precarious circumstances than the one he left behind.

Enzo Maresca Out of Work Since Chelsea Sacking

Maresca’s availability is, of course, central to the story. The Italian has been without a job since New Year’s Day, when Chelsea opted to part company with him following a turbulent run of form in the Premier League.

When Maresca arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2024, expectations were cautiously optimistic. He signed a five-year contract, with an option for an additional season, and inherited a talented but volatile squad. In his only full campaign, he delivered results that, on paper at least, suggested progress: a fourth-place Premier League finish, qualification for the Champions League, and silverware in both the Conference League and the Club World Cup.

That Club World Cup triumph, in particular, raised eyebrows across Europe. Chelsea’s emphatic victory over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain in the final was hailed as a statement performance, and for a time Maresca appeared to have bought himself real credit in west London.

Yet football rarely follows a neat script. Despite those achievements, cracks began to appear in Maresca’s relationship with Chelsea’s ownership, and the mood around the club shifted rapidly as results dipped in December.

Chelsea Fallout and the Comments That Changed Everything

Much of Maresca’s downfall can be traced back to a tense period in December, when Chelsea were battling inconsistency and external pressure. Following a narrow victory over Everton, the Italian made unusually frank comments about a lack of support from within the club.

“This is the reason why I praise the players because with so many problems they are doing very well after a complicated week,” Maresca said at the time.
“Since I joined the club the last 48 hours has been the worst 48 hours since I joined the club because many people didn’t support us.

“Worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn’t support me and the team.”

Those words were widely interpreted as a thinly veiled criticism of Chelsea’s hierarchy. While Maresca attempted to clarify his stance in subsequent interviews, the damage was arguably already done. Results failed to improve — just one win in seven league matches followed — and on New Year’s Day Chelsea pulled the trigger, appointing Liam Rosenior as his successor.

For Maresca, it was a brutal ending to what had promised to be a long-term project.

Leicester Reach Out After Dismissing Marti Cifuentes

Chelsea v Bournemouth – Premier League

Back at Leicester, the situation is very different but no less intense. The Foxes’ decision to part ways with Marti Cifuentes last week was the culmination of months of frustration and underachievement.

Cifuentes’ final match in charge was a damaging 2-1 defeat to Oxford United, which proved to be Leicester’s 11th loss in 29 Championship games under the Spaniard. A subsequent 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic has left Leicester 16th in the table, uncomfortably close to the relegation conversation and nine points adrift of the play-off places.

Promotion, which was the clear objective at the start of the season, now feels like a distant prospect. In response, the club have acted swiftly, placing Andy King in interim charge while sounding out potential long-term replacements.

According to the Mirror, Leicester have already contacted Maresca to explore the possibility of a shock return. The belief inside the club is that, with the right appointment, a late push towards the top six might still be achievable.

Why Enzo Maresca Still Holds Appeal at the King Power

Despite the current gloom, Maresca’s reputation at Leicester remains strong. His spell at the club is still remembered fondly by supporters, not just for the promotion itself but for the style of football he implemented.

During the 2023–24 season, Leicester were widely regarded as one of the most coherent and dominant sides in the Championship. Maresca’s emphasis on controlled possession, intelligent pressing and positional discipline brought consistency, and the Foxes finished the campaign as deserved champions.

That success has not been forgotten in the East Midlands. Several senior figures at Leicester are said to believe that Maresca understands the club’s culture, the pressures of the Championship, and the demands of promotion better than most candidates currently available.

There is also a sense of unfinished business. Maresca left Leicester for Chelsea at the peak of his stock, and while his time at Stamford Bridge ended abruptly, his work in the Championship still stands as one of the most impressive managerial performances in recent years.

Would Maresca Consider a Return to Championship Strugglers Leicester?

The key question, of course, is whether Maresca himself would be tempted. On one hand, a return to Leicester offers familiarity, trust, and a fanbase that largely remains on his side. On the other, it represents a step back into the grind of the Championship, with promotion far from guaranteed.

There is also the matter of timing. Just weeks removed from his Chelsea sacking, Maresca may prefer to wait for opportunities at Premier League or European level, rather than rushing into a high-risk rescue mission.

Financial considerations could also play a role. While Leicester are ambitious, they are operating under tighter constraints than during their previous top-flight spells, and the squad is currently stretched by injuries and inconsistency.

Still, the idea of returning to a club where he enjoyed genuine success — and where expectations, while high, are perhaps more realistic — may appeal as a chance to rebuild his reputation away from the glare of Stamford Bridge.

Foxes Desperate to Revive Fortunes After Poor Season

Sheffield United v Leicester City – Championship

Whether or not Maresca is the answer, Leicester’s situation is undeniably fragile. The squad has been ravaged by injuries, with key players such as Aaron Ramsey, Harry Souttar, Jannik Vestergaard, Jordan James, Oliver Skipp and Victor Kristiansen all sidelined.

A lack of stability on and off the pitch has contributed to their poor run, and confidence appears to be draining with each passing week. Without a clear direction soon, the season risks slipping away entirely.

Andy King’s interim spell is designed to steady the ship, but the club know that a long-term solution is needed — and quickly. The Championship does not wait for anyone, and momentum, once lost, can be difficult to recover.

What Happens Next for Enzo Maresca and Leicester City?

For now, Leicester’s contact with Maresca appears to be exploratory rather than definitive. Talks are believed to be at an early stage, with no formal offer yet on the table. Much will depend on how Leicester perform over the coming weeks and whether the Italian feels the project aligns with his ambitions.

What is clear is that Maresca’s name still carries weight at the King Power Stadium. In a season full of disappointment, the prospect of a familiar face returning offers a flicker of hope.

Whether that hope turns into reality remains to be seen. But one month on from his shock Chelsea sacking, Enzo Maresca is once again at the centre of a fascinating managerial storyline — one that could yet reshape the fortunes of a fallen Premier League champion.