Leeds United of the English Premier League hired former MLS coach Jesse Marsch as its next manager on Monday.
Marsch will be the third American to coach in the Premier League, following Bob Bradley (Swansea City) and David Wagner (Huddersfield). The club said he signed a contract through June 2025.
Marsch, 48, had his greatest coaching success with the New York Red Bulls. He led New York to a Supporters’ Shield in 2015, his first season on the job, and won MLS Coach of the Year honors.
Marsch became the club’s winningest coach, leaving midway through the 2018 season with a 75-44-32 record to become an assistant coach with RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga. He then took over at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in 2019, staying for two seasons as the team won consecutive league titles.
He most recently coached RB Leipzig for five months in 2021 before leaving via “mutual consent,” with the team in 11th place.
Marsch had a 14-year MLS playing career as a midfielder with D.C. United (1996-97), Chicago Fire (1998-2005) and Chivas USA (2006-09). He also served as an assistant coach of the United States Men’s National Team before being named the first coach of the expansion club then known as the Montreal Impact, where he stayed one season (2012).
The Wisconsin native and Princeton alum will make his Leeds United debut Saturday when the club visits Leicester City.
Leeds, 16th in the Premier League standings, fired former coach Marcelo Bielsa on Sunday.
“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,” Leeds director of football Victor Orta said in a statement. “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.”
–Field Level Media
