Jesse March leaves RB Leipzig on December 5th after a run of three straight defeats in the league.
The news comes just days before Leipzig’s home tie against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. Marsch spent five months in the job.
Jesse Marsch Leaves RB Leipzig As Club Languish in Mid-Table
Bundesliga Shake-Up Occurs as Jesse Marsch Leaves RB Leipzig
Jesse Marsch has left RB Leipzig after a mutual agreement with the club. The American coach has departed after his side succumbed to three successive defeats in the Bundesliga.
After a mixed start to the campaign, the club went on a seven-match unbeaten run. However, their fortunes changed with losses to Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen and Union Berlin in recent weeks.
Marsch joined the club from sister side Red Bull Salzburg in July. The appointment came after his predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann, left for Bayern Munich.
Marsch’s assistant, Achim Beierlozer, will take control for the foreseeable future as Red Bull hunt for a long-term replacement, according to Leipzig’s official statement.
In an official club statement, Jesse Marsch said: “I am very grateful to be part of the Red Bull family and to have been given this opportunity! Up until the very end, I remained hopeful that after a troubled start to the season and inconsistent performances, we would find more cohesion and stability as a group and turn our fortunes around. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to do that – after a discussion with Oliver Mintzlaff, we came to the joint decision to make a change in the coaching position.”
“I keep only positive thoughts in my mind and wish for the club, the team, the staff and all the fans that RB Leipzig finds its way back to its old strengths very quickly and, given the quality in the team and in the club, I am sure that the club will achieve its goals.
Humble Beginnings
Jesse Marsch began his coaching career in his native United States. The manager coached was an assistant with the national team until 2011.
Marsch proceeded to commence his first-team coaching career with MLS side Montreal Impact year before joining New York Red Bulls in 2012.
With a Supporters’ Shield in his first year and a win percentage of just below 50%, Marsch teamed up with sister club Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. This move came in 2019 with Marco Rose making the switch to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Dream Start in Europe
Despite Salzburg’s heavy funding compared to fellow Austrian sides, Marsch’s honours at the club are impressive. Salzburg won the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup in both of the two seasons Jesse Marsch spent at the club.
This was impressive enough to secure him the move at RB Leipzig in Germany – a major player in “the bigger Bundesliga”.
After confirming Marsch’s to Leipzig in July, head of football Oliver Mintzlaff said: “Jesse has done outstanding work everywhere he has worked so far. He has kept developing and it is obviously an advantage that he has worked at RB Leipzig for a year in the past.”
“Jesse knows the club, the city, but most of all the philosophy of the team and the playing style.”
In 2020/21, under Julian Nagelsmann, the club reached 2nd in Bundesliga and reached the final of domestic cup DFB-Pokal. However, things have not gone as smoothly since Marsch took over.
Rocky Start
RB Leipzig began the 2021/22 season in mixed form. A loss to Mainz on the opening day was followed up by a triumphant 4-0 victory over Stuttgart.
Two defeats followed, including a drubbing at the hands of Nagelsmann’s Bayern. Nevertheless, a seven-match unbeaten streak saw Leipzig move up the table.
Marsch’s side scored nine goals in two games in September and October. Christopher Nkunku starred as RB Leipzig recorded 6-0 and 3-0 wins over Hertha BSC and VfL Bochum respectively.
Despite this, their form began to dry up. Three consecutive defeats sealed Jesse Marsch’s fate as the American agreed to part ways with Red Bull.
Hard Luck in Europe
Unsurprisingly, a Champions League group also featuring Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain has proved a difficult challenge for the German side.
RB Leipzig, under assistant Beierlozer, face City on Tuesday December 7th at the Red Bull Arena.
Main Image Credit Embed from Getty Images
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