Marcelo Bielsa joined Leeds United in 2018, bringing the club back to the Premier League by winning the Championship title in 2020, ending a 16-year absence of clubs from the Premier League. Leeds United finished ninth in their first season in the Premier League, but a difficult second season in which the team lost five of their last six games marked the end of Marcelo Bielsa’s reign at Elland Road. On Sunday evening, Leeds United was shocked by the announcement of a replacement for manager Marcelo Bielsa, which they said would take place on Monday. Leeds United announced on Saturday that Marcelo Bielsa had left the club after losing 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road.
Leeds United has sacked Marcelo Bielsa; news has been confirmed, with sources telling ESPN that former US midfielder Jesse Marsch is the best contender to replace Marcelo Bielsa. RB Leipzig’s U.S. manager Jesse Marsch is expected to be announced as Bielsa’s replacement on Monday. Jesse Marsh becomes only the third American to manage a team in the Premier League after Bob Bradley and D. Wagner.
US manager Marsh, 48, was released after leaving Leipzig for the Bundesliga in December after just five months on the job. Marsch was clearly the favourite to replace the 66-year-old Argentine, who was last hired by Leipzig earlier this season but parted ways just a few months later. It would have been a big surprise if Marsch was not picked for the role, as he is also eligible for a work permit under the new rules, having spent the past five years in the top flight. Before being knocked out, U.S. coach Jesse Marsch led RB Leipzig’s sister club Red Bull Salzburg to two consecutive doubles in the Austrian top flight in two seasons in charge, having previously played in Montreal Impact and New York Red Conservatives. Jesse has coached in Major League Soccer and has won the MLS with multiple teams. The American coach left RB Leipzig with a record of 8 wins, four draws and nine losses.
In its current form, Elland Road, with a sign of change, Leeds are back in the league. The Premier League fighters have said they plan to stage a “permanent tribute” to Bielsa at Elland Road and will provide more information on how this will take place shortly. Speaking ahead of the beating, Paul Merson told Soccer Saturday that Marcelo Bielsa was “throwing people’s eyes”, and Leeds fans continued to support the Argentine despite Leeds’ miserable form. The decision to sack Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa was difficult for Leeds United based on the affection between the former Argentina international manager and the Leeds loyalists.