Argentine out, American in: Leeds name Marsch as new boss

It's official - Leeds United announced the appointment of Jesse Marsch as the club's new head coach following yesterday's departure of Marcelo Bielsa.

The legendary Argentine coach developed a special bond with the Leeds' faithful but now the fans must back the ambitious new coach in a bid to avoid being dragged in the relegation scrap.

The 48-year-old Marsch has signed a deal at Elland Road running until June 2025 and his first game in charge will be Saturday's Premier League trip to Leicester.

Marsch is excited about the prospect of managing Leeds in the Premier League and says he is ready to take on the new challenge in his career. He already knows how he wants his new team to play.

"I know what a big club Leeds is, I know ex-players who have played here, and I've watched this club from afar for many years and I'm really honoured and excited to be here. One of the things I love about this team right now is their commitment no matter how difficult the games have been, to play until the end, fight for each other, to never stop and to give everything to each other at every moment. This mentality and mindset to play for the fans, fight for the fans and to fight for each other is what I love, as a manager that is what I identify, a team that has heart, passion and plays for each other with everything they have."

Marsch also paid tribute to his predecessor.

"My respect and admiration for Marcelo Bielsa is massive. When I was assistant coach with the US national team in my first full-time coaching job, our first game was against Chile and Marcelo Bielsa. I followed his career and watched what he has done from afar and certainly he is a hero here. How he has helped transform Leeds United into a Premier League team is pretty amazing."

Marsch, a former USA international midfielder, previously played for D.C. United, Chicago Fire and Chivas USA in the MLS. Following his retirement from playing, he became an assistant with the USA national team, before being named as the first head coach of Montreal Impact in 2012.

Saturday, 15.30: (1.83) Leicester (3.60) Leeds (4.40)

In 2018, he left New York Red Bulls as the coach with the most wins in the club’s history, joining German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig as assistant to Ralf Rangnick. Ahead of the 2019/20 season he was named head coach of sister club Red Bull Salzburg and went on to have great success, winning both the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup in consecutive seasons.

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This led to him returning to RB Leipzig as head coach last summer, which was his most recent position, prior to parting ways in December after just a few underwhelming months in charge. He will now be looking to guide Leeds United away from the Premier League relegation places over the final 12 games of the campaign.