Manchester City Appoint Enzo Maresca as New Manager After Guardiola Era Ends
Manchester City have officially appointed Italian coach Enzo Maresca as their new manager, marking the beginning of a new chapter following the departure of long-serving boss Pep Guardiola.

The Premier League champions confirmed the appointment on Monday, announcing that Maresca has signed a three-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2029.

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The 46-year-old returns to Manchester City for his third spell at the club after previously serving in coaching roles before managing Leicester City and Chelsea.

Reacting to his appointment, Maresca described the opportunity as a dream come true.

“Manchester City is a club I know very well and to have the chance to manage this team is a brilliant opportunity for me,” he said.

He praised the club’s structure and professionalism, saying City is “an incredibly well-run football club” where everything is “innovative, planned and purposeful.”

According to Maresca, such an environment provides the stability every manager needs to succeed.

“This will be my third spell here. I know this club, I know the demands and I know the expectations,” he added.

The Italian coach also expressed gratitude to the club’s hierarchy for trusting him with the role.

“The quality of the people who work here is what makes it so special, and I want to thank them for showing faith in my ability. I cannot wait to start coaching the players. I want us to win, play good football and enjoy the pressure of representing Manchester City.”

Maresca now faces the task of building on the remarkable success achieved under Guardiola as Manchester City prepare for a new era under his leadership.

The president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al-Misehal, has resigned following the Green Falcons’ disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the group stage.

Saudi Arabia finished at the bottom of Group H with just two points after recording 1-1 and 0-0 draws against Uruguay and Cape Verde respectively, before suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Spain, ending their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.

Announcing his decision in a statement posted on X on Sunday, Al-Misehal accepted full responsibility for the team’s poor performance and apologised to Saudi football supporters.

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“The failure of the national team to qualify for the next round of the World Cup is a result that falls short of all our ambitions, and I bear full responsibility for it. I offer my apologies to everyone who hoped to see our team in a better position,” he said.

He added that stepping aside was necessary to allow the federation begin a fresh chapter.

“A sense of responsibility requires giving the opportunity to open a new chapter, and I have decided not to continue until the end of my current term.”

Al-Misehal served as president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for seven years and was instrumental in securing Saudi Arabia’s successful bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, a key part of the kingdom’s broader economic diversification agenda.

The resignation comes after a difficult period for Saudi football. Earlier this year, a string of poor performances in international friendly matches led to the dismissal of French coach Hervé Renard during his second spell in charge of the national team after replacing Italian manager Roberto Mancini.

Despite Saudi Arabia’s massive investment of nearly $2 billion in football over the past three years—including attracting global stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema to the Saudi Pro League—the national team failed to make an impact at the tournament.

The 2026 tournament marked Saudi Arabia’s third consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance, but their campaign ended with an early elimination.

Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo has been left devastated after his wife and two children were killed in the powerful earthquakes that rocked Venezuela, turning what was once a family home into a pile of rubble.

Trejo, who plays for Venezuelan second-division side Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira, was away at a training camp in Caracas when twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck the country on Wednesday evening.

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Upon learning of the disaster, the 38-year-old rushed back to his home in La Guaira, one of the regions hardest hit by the catastrophe.

Instead of reuniting with his family, he was met with scenes of complete destruction.

According to reports, Trejo spent three heartbreaking days searching through the debris for his wife, Yanina, and their two children, Aaron and Ainhoa. Rescue workers eventually recovered their bodies from the collapsed building.

In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Club Sport Maritimo La Guaira expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the deaths of Trejo’s wife and children as an irreparable loss.

The club also extended its condolences to the footballer, pledging its support as he mourns one of the most painful moments of his life.

Trejo’s brother-in-law, Ricardo Ardiles, recalled the emotional scene in an interview with CNN, saying the footballer returned home only to find that nothing remained of the building where his family had lived.

The devastating earthquakes have left a trail of destruction across Venezuela.

Authorities say the death toll has climbed to nearly 1,500, while tens of thousands of people remain missing as emergency responders continue rescue and recovery operations.

The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of sympathy from football fans, fellow players and clubs around the world, many of whom have offered prayers and messages of support to Trejo during his time of immense grief.