Enzo Maresca has written his name into Premier League history after becoming the first manager to win his opening seven matches in charge of a club, guiding Manchester City to a perfect start to their 2026/27 league campaign.
The Italian reached the historic milestone on Saturday, October 17, when Manchester City defeated Ipswich Town 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium. The victory maintained City’s 100 per cent league record, extended their winning streak to seven matches and strengthened their position at the top of the Premier League table.
Maresca’s remarkable achievement places him ahead of several respected managers who previously won their first six Premier League matches in charge of a club, including Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.
City’s record-breaking run began with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth on August 23. They followed that result with an impressive 4-1 away win against Crystal Palace on August 28, demonstrating their attacking strength and ability to collect points on the road.
The champions continued their momentum in September, defeating Coventry City 1-0 on September 5 before securing a crucial 1-0 Manchester derby victory against Manchester United on September 13.
Maresca’s team subsequently produced one of their most entertaining performances of the campaign, beating Sunderland 5-3 on September 20 in a match that highlighted both their attacking firepower and the defensive improvements still required.
City then travelled to Anfield and delivered a commanding performance against Liverpool, winning 3-0 on October 11. The victory was particularly significant because winning away against one of their major rivals provided further evidence that Maresca’s side could deliver under pressure.
Their seventh consecutive league victory came against Ipswich, with City recovering from a determined challenge to secure a 3-2 result.
Phil Foden opened the scoring in the 19th minute, finishing a cutback from Jérémy Doku. Ipswich responded almost immediately through Daizen Maeda, who levelled the contest in the 21st minute.
Erling Haaland restored City’s advantage in the 34th minute after excellent work from Mateo Kovacic, before scoring again in the 69th minute following a pass from Iliman Ndiaye.
The Norwegian’s second goal proved especially significant because it was his 100th non-penalty Premier League goal, achieved in just 139 appearances, making him the fastest player to reach that milestone.
Ipswich refused to surrender and reduced the deficit through Zian Flemming’s 90th-minute penalty after Marc Guehi fouled Abdul Fatawu. The late goal created a tense finish, but City held on to complete another victory.
Across his first seven Premier League matches, Maresca’s Manchester City have scored 19 goals and conceded six, collecting the maximum 21 points available. The statistics underline the team’s attacking efficiency and consistency, although the eight goals conceded in their victories over Sunderland and Ipswich also demonstrate that there remains room for defensive improvement.
The achievement is particularly notable given the expectations surrounding Maresca following Guardiola’s departure. Replacing a manager who enjoyed a decade of success at the Etihad was never going to be straightforward, but the Italian has quickly established a winning rhythm.
However, City’s success has not been entirely without setbacks. They suffered a 4-2 Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain on October 14, demonstrating that their domestic dominance has not yet translated into the same level of consistency in Europe.
The Ipswich victory also brought injury concerns, with Haaland and several teammates experiencing discomfort during or after the match. Their condition will be important as City prepare for a demanding schedule across domestic and European competitions.
Maresca has credited his players for their performances and continued improvement, emphasising the importance of their work on the training ground rather than focusing exclusively on the record.
His achievement also provides an important historical comparison. Although Chelsea won their first nine Premier League matches of the 2005/06 season and Liverpool won their opening eight in 2019/20, Maresca’s record concerns the first seven matches of a managerial reign, rather than simply a club’s start to a particular campaign.
For Manchester City, the immediate priority will be maintaining their winning momentum while managing the physical demands of a congested fixture list.
Maresca has already delivered a historic start, but sustaining that form through the decisive stages of the season will ultimately determine whether his first campaign at the Etihad becomes one of lasting significance.
For now, seven victories from seven Premier League matches represent an extraordinary beginning, and Maresca has given Manchester City supporters another reason to believe that their team can remain competitive at the highest level.
The seven league results are Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City, Crystal Palace 1-4 Manchester City, Manchester City 1-0 Coventry City, Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City, Manchester City 5-3 Sunderland, Liverpool 0-3 Manchester City and Manchester City 3-2 Ipswich Town. City’s official results and record announcement confirm the run, 21 points and 19 goals.
