Commentary
Jesse Marsch is fired by Leeds United
- by Steven Griffiths , Feb 7, 2023
Jesse Marsch was fired as Leeds manager on Monday after the American failed to halt the struggling club's slide towards the Premier League relegation zone.
Leeds' 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest on Sunday left it just one place above the bottom three after seven league games without a win.
"Leeds United can confirm head coach Jesse Marsch has been relieved of his duties," the club said in a statement.
Leeds last won a match in the Premier League on Nov. 5, a dismal run that prompted fans to call for Marsch to be sacked after the Forest defeat. They got their wish just 24 hours later, with the 49-year-old relieved of his duties after only a year in charge at Elland Road.
"Jesse joined the club in February 2022 and was instrumental in keeping the club in the Premier League on the final day of last season," the statement said. It added: "The process of appointing a new head coach is under way."
Jesse Marsch's coaching career:
1. Montreal Impact (2012), 12 wins, 16 losses, 6 ties (1.24 points per game)
2. NY Red Bulls (2015-18), 62 wins, 38 losses, 25 ties (1.69 points per game)
Titles: MLS Supporters' Shield (2015, *2018)
3. Red Bull Salzburg (2019-21), 47 wins, 7 losses, 10 ties (2.36 points per game)
Titles: Austrian Bundesliga (2020-21), Austrian OFB-Cup (2020-21)
4. RB Leipzig (2021), 5 wins, 6 losses 3 ties (1.29 points per game)
5. Leeds United (2022-23), 8 wins, 15 losses, 9 ties (1.03 points per game)
*Left in July 2018 to become RB Leipzig assistant.
Note: Record includes league matches (regular season and playoffs).
Marsch, who was hired on a three-year contract to replace the sacked Marcelo Bielsa, departs with his 17th-placed team out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
The appointment of Marsch at Elland Road was greeted with skepticism, with some arguing the American's lack of Premier League pedigree made his appointment a gamble. He had previously coached the Montreal Impact, New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig (where he started his European coaching career as an assistant in 2018).
Leeds was 16th when Marsch arrived in February 2022 and he eventually saved it from relegation with victory at Brentford on the last day of the season. But it has failed to progress after that dramatic escape, winning just four times in 20 Premier League games this season and suffering 10 defeats as fan frustration mounted.
Marsch was hampered by the sales of star players Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha before the start of the current campaign. He also had to deal with an injury to star striker Patrick Bamford and failed to solve his team's defensive weaknesses.
But Marsch was backed by Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani in the January transfer window, with Georginio Rutter, Weston McKennie, Diogo Monteiro and Max Woeber added to the squad.
Leeds' American connection:
McKennie, a sub in the loss to Forest, joined fellow Americans Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, both summer signings, at Elland Road. Adams, who played for Marsch at the Red Bulls, has been a force in the Leeds midfield, but Aaronson, who joined Marsch at Salzburg in 2021, has been ineffective after a promising start. If McKennie's move becomes a permanent transfer, Leeds will have shelled out an estimated $100 million on the three Americans.
The recent appointment of fellow American Chris Armas as Marsch's assistant coach was also seen as a show of support for the beleaguered boss.
Speaking after the Forest loss, Marsch said he took "full responsibility" for the club's plight. But Leeds CEO Angus Kinnear and sporting director Victor Orta have acted by removing Marsch in a desperate bid to stop Leeds crashing into the Championship.
Former Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard, West Brom manager Carlos Corberan and ex-Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino have all been linked with the Leeds job.
Corberan was part of Bielsa's backroom staff at Elland Road and has impressed with his work at second-tier West Brom this season after taking Huddersfield to the Championship play-offs last term.
Up next: Leeds' decision to axe Marsch came at the start of a crucial week featuring back-to-back games against archrival Manchester United. It travels to Old Trafford on Wednesday and hosts Erik ten Hag's team on Sunday.
• Michael Skubala, Paco Gallardo and Armas will take charge of Wednesday's Premier League match against Manchester United. Besides Marsch, Leeds also parted ways with Rene Maric, Cameron Toshack and Pierre Barrieu.
smg/jw/mw
© Agence France-Presse
What a cluster. Raphinha went to Barca, Phillips to City and Bamford's been injured half the season. Why did it take Leeds management so long to reload? They still don't have the kind of target 9 they need to compete with Bamford. Maybe they avoid relegation with a new manager, but seems to me Marsch would do better with those players and could be let go at the end of the season regardless. Having said that, Gnonto is an exciting prospect.
They signed the Wrong "American"... What was Needed was;
Left Def; JEDI
CB; CCV
CtF; BALOGUN
They could have ALL been Bought for TM Website Value of 30 Million.
And they ALL have British Passports.
The wrong American -- I betcha Santi wants them to hire Berhalter!
I would help Pay Gggs Salary for ANY Foreign Team that will Hire Ggg and keep him OUT of Being USMNT Coach.!!!
Santi, LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
I'm a bit surprised, Leeds have turned into the American team with lots of supporters in this country that they never had before. I understand the income from EPL vs champion league are enormous. Just wish he would been able to finish the season.
Normally, I think they would have given him a Couple more Games... But, his Behavior has become so Irratic and "Odd" that I think they Feared for his Mental Health.
And please, oh, please, oh, please, do not consider Marsch for the USMNT. Despite being hampered by the losses of Raphina and Phillips, Marsch is too intense of a coach with a spotty track record at the high level. I wonder how intense or how motivating he is on the training ground and in the dressing room? Despite Leeds poor record, it still has a decent collection of players. The challenge is to arrange them in the right order on the field, improve overall tactics introduce an attack that can produce goals, and sort out the defensive issues. Results show that this is beyond Marsch.
Ben, If this happens , I'll be watching ESPN bowling for dollars...
When it's all about hustle and the system it, never ends well. Santi, you don't have to worry about GB coming back. That has no logic even for this federation. Hopefully it won't come down to Frank watching bowling.
I'm afraid, is Becoming More, and More about the "System"... Just look at this Last week... "Good" Teams like Real Madrid, Arsenal, Man City Losing to vastly Inferior Team that Hustle... I think there Problem for March, was he had TOO Much Possession, and Couldn't Figure out how to Break Down "Bunker Bus" Teams, and then his Individual Defenders made too many crucial Mistakes on Transition..
Seems that ALL the "Superior" Teams are Struggling with this... Maybe it's the World Cup Hangover, or my Theory...
You can Take Two Teams; change the Uniforms at Half Time and You wouldn't know the Difference, except for maybe One "Star" Player... And the Stars seem to be Tuckered Out.!!!
Wish Jesse best in recovery. Good he got a 3 year deal and only finished 11 months, he should have some time to think carefully his next move. It will be important for him, the next move. Lot of respect for the work he's done, and the path he chose, it was not easy, he knew this. Maybe the Leeds move was a bit hasty. This is ok. Young man. Keep building. Need to be able to run teams and generate clean sheets at the highest level. Beautiful game and all, but, at the pinacle, must be able to get clean sheets and win 1-0 games. Same thing that did in Bob Bradley at Swansea, not able to generate clean sheets. Simple bottom line at the top. Just ask Klopp. Heavy metal soccer now Under Pressure.
Interesting observation about clean sheets. If I recall correctly the few British out and out attacking sides that succeeded were middle of the table. Exciting but not consistent.
On the other hand the classic Ajax "Total Soccer" was able to blend consistent attacking soccer with a strong defense in a high line.
My summary of that style is control the middle third is control of the game. To do that Ajax had to have a "sweeper keeper" to handle the balls over the top.
We develop the wrong kind of backs and keepers to play this way. In youth development we would be better off not letting anyone specialize in the back and keeper positions before age 18.