Premier League newcomers Maresca, Iraola and Alonso face early pressure

Nine Premier League clubs will begin the season with new managers on Friday, but the spotlight will be especially intense on Enzo Maresca, Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso as they take charge of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea respectively.

There has not been such a high level of managerial change before an English top-flight season since 1946/47, the first campaign after World War II.

The scale of the turnover is underlined by Manchester United manager Michael Carrick’s position. Despite only taking over at Old Trafford in January, he is already the league’s 10th-longest-serving manager.

Maresca, Iraola and Alonso have each arrived at clubs with substantial expectations and demanding challenges. Their appointments are the three most prominent changes among the Premier League’s new leadership teams.

Maresca faces immediate test at Manchester City

Former Chelsea manager Maresca has begun his third spell at Manchester City, but his return started with a heavy 3-0 defeat by Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield.

The Italian described himself as being “back home” after moving back to the club, although the performance at Wembley has already intensified the pressure surrounding one of the most difficult jobs in English football: succeeding Pep Guardiola.

Maresca, 46, previously worked at Manchester City as lead coach of the elite development squad in 2020/21 and as an assistant coach during the 2022/23 campaign, when the club won the treble.

He subsequently guided Leicester City back to the Premier League before joining Chelsea. During an 18-month spell at Stamford Bridge, he won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup amid a turbulent period for the club.

Manchester City had identified Maresca as a possible successor to Guardiola for some time. Guardiola won 20 trophies during a highly successful decade in Manchester, leaving Maresca with the considerable task of following one of the most decorated managers in the game.

Maresca has spoken about the “privilege” and “challenge” of taking over from his former manager. However, Manchester City’s lacklustre display against Arsenal highlighted the scale of the work required if they are to reclaim the Premier League title, which they last won in 2024.

Iraola takes Bournemouth success to Liverpool

Iraola, 44, has replaced Arne Slot at Liverpool after making a strong impression during his three seasons at Bournemouth.

In his first address to Liverpool supporters, the Spaniard said he wanted to “earn the right to be one of you”. He was appointed because of his tactical qualities and is expected to bring back the aggressive, high-intensity approach associated with the “heavy metal” football of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp was Slot’s immediate predecessor, while Slot left the club only 12 months after guiding Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th English league title. His departure followed a concerning decline in the team’s form during the previous season.

Iraola improved Bournemouth’s league position in each of his three campaigns on the south coast. A sixth-place finish last season secured European football for Bournemouth for the first time in their history.

He described the Liverpool role as “magic” during his opening news conference, but the move represents a significant step up. The expectations and scrutiny at Anfield will be greater than anything he has previously experienced.

Alonso aims to restore stability at Chelsea

Alonso’s appointment at Chelsea gives him an opportunity to rebuild his reputation after a short and unhappy spell as manager of Real Madrid.

The former Spain international was strongly linked with Liverpool, where he won the Champions League as a player, but Chelsea became his next destination.

Alonso established himself as a leading coach at Bayer Leverkusen, overseeing an unprecedented unbeaten domestic double during the 2023/24 season. That success earned him the manager’s job at his former club Real Madrid, although his time at the Bernabeu deteriorated quickly and ended in January after fewer than eight months.

Alonso said his early departure from Madrid had left a “scar”, but added that it had healed as he prepared to begin a new chapter.

His immediate responsibility at Chelsea is to bring order to a club that endured a chaotic campaign. The season began with Maresca in charge and also included a brief, unsuccessful period under Liam Rosenior.

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League and have since returned to the transfer market. One of their most significant deals saw Morgan Rogers become the most expensive British player in history.

Chelsea’s lack of European football may give Alonso more time to mould the team according to his own ideas. However, the reduced fixture schedule could also make it harder to keep a large squad satisfied as he attempts to create the calm and stability the club urgently needs.