Developing Palmer, Parma exit - why Leicester are linked with Man City coach Enzo Maresca as new manager

Manchester City could be set to lose coach Enzo Maresca for the second time in three summers, with reports suggesting he is set to become the new manager of Leicester City.

Maresca was the Elite Development Squad head coach for the 2020/21 season, ending the academy's wait for a Premier League 2 title at the same attempt. The popular Italian, who played for Juventus, Sevilla, West Brom and Palermo among others, twice won the UEFA Cup in a successful career.

He was assistant manager at Sevilla and West Ham - where he coached alongside former City boss Manuel Pellegrini - before taking the role as Academy Head Coach at City three years ago.

In his first year at City, Maresca told the talented players in the academy that it was time to win the Premier League 2 after years of trying. He led the likes of Cole Palmer, Tommy Doyle, Liam Delap, James McAtee and Taylor Harwood-Bellis to winning the league, instilling a confidence in the side to fulfill their potential.

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He described the PL2 title as the best trophy he has won in his career at the time, with McAtee recalling that he introduced a no-nonsense approach to the campaign. “When Enzo came in he said: ‘This has never been done before, we want to make history and win the league.’ And we went and did it,” McAtee explained.

Doyle added: “I’ve been with the U23s for a few years and I’ve seen the different styles and coaches. It wasn’t based on winning, it was about playing nice football, which is nice but you want to win. Soon as Enzo came in he said: ‘Listen, we’re going to win this league.’

“When a coach says that, you start to believe as players. Sometimes when