Soccer

    Former RB Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch appointed new Leeds United head coach

    Planet Sport writerStaff Writer28 February 2022
    Red Bull Arena. Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch gestures before the match.

    Red Bull Arena. Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch gestures before the match.

    Leeds United have announced that American Jesse Marsch will take over the managerial position following the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa.

    The club parted ways with Bielsa after three-and-a-half highly successful years at the helm, with owner Andrea Radrizzani saying he "had to act in order to secure Premier League status". 

    Leeds acted swiftly in naming a successor, with Marsch agreeing to become their new head coach, pending international clearance, after signing a deal that runs to June 2025.

    The club's director of football Victor Orta said: "We are delighted to welcome Jesse to the club and excited for him to lead us into this new chapter."

    Leeds are two points and two places above the drop zone but, with key players due to return from injury in the coming weeks, unhappy supporters wanted Bielsa, the man who restored their Premier League place after a 16-year exile, to see the job through.

    Radrizzani saw things differently, though, and made the change, with 48-year-old Marsch the man enlisted to lead a charge away from the bottom three.

    A two-time winner of the Austrian Bundesliga with Red Bull Salzburg, Marsch last coached at RB Leipzig, whom he left after just 21 games in December.

    Orta added: "Jesse is someone we identified a number of years ago during his time at Red Bull Salzburg and we believe his philosophy and style of football aligns with that of the club and will suit the players very well.
    "We have a long-term plan and firmly believe he can take Leeds United to the next level and are excited for what the future holds."
    Marsch said he was "honoured and excited" to take over at Elland Road.
    He said in a video on the Leeds Twitter account: "The last phase of making this decision from everyone's perspective came together pretty quickly, but it's something I'm really excited about.
    "I know what a big club Leeds is. I have ex-players that have played here, I've watched this club from afar for many years and I'm really honoured and excited to be here."

    READ MORE: Seven things you need to know about new Leeds United manager, Jesse Marsch