Former New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch is set to become the third American to ever coach in England’s Premier League as he will take over at Leeds United.
Leeds — one of the more successful English clubs of the 20th century with three first-division championships, an FA Cup, a League Cup, and a Champions League title (1975) to its ledger — are in the midst of their second season back in the Premier League after financial troubles led to their relegation all the way down to England’s third division in 2007.
Led by Argentinian manager Marcelo Bielsa from the Championship back into the Premier League, Leeds finished ninth in their first year back in the top flight last season. This season, however, has been disastrous for the Lillywhites, who sit in 16th place in the Premier League and just two points above the relegation zone.
After three successive defeats of 4-2, 6-0, and 4-0, Bielsa was fired — opening the door for Marsch to take over.
The 48-year-old Marsch played collegiate soccer at Princeton before appearing in over 300 career MLS games. He broke into the coaching ranks in 2010 as an assistant for the United States men’s national team under Bob Bradley where he would stay for two years. Following a short stint as manager of the expansion Montreal Impact in 2012, Marsch worked his way up the New York Red Bulls ranks to head coach in 2015.
Over four years with the team, Marsch set a franchise record with 75 wins and won the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2015.
He parlayed that to a move to Europe where he began as an assistant with Bundesliga (Germany) side RB Leipzig under current Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick. After a one-year hiatus as manager of Leipzig’s sister club, Red Bull Salzburg, Marsch was welcomed back as manager following Rangnick’s departure for the Premier League.
After recording just seven wins with four draws and six losses, Marsch was dismissed by Leipzig in December.
American managers haven’t necessarily fared well in the Premier League.
Bradley led Swansea City for just 11 games in 2016 before he was sacked. David Wagner helped Huddersfield Town gain promotion to the Premier League and managed to keep them up in their first year back. However, he was fired five months into the following campaign, finishing with a record of 11-15-34.
