WHY JESSE MARSCHING
Won only four of 20 Prem matches Above drop zone on goal difference Spent £130million on new signings
DESPITE being compared to American TV comedy character Ted Lasso, Jesse Marsch did his best to be taken seriously in the Premier League.
But in the end, Leeds’ dire form became no laughing matter as Marsch was sacked yesterday.
The 49-year-old coach will now struggle to get another job back in English football like compatriot Bob Bradley, who lasted less than three months at Swansea in 2016.
Marsch was marginally more successful as he survived 343 days in charge at Elland Road.
He was appointed last February with a brief to save the Whites from relegation – which he did on the final day at Brentford to finish in 17th spot.
But the club have not progressed since and Marsch paid the ultimate price after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at
Nottingham Forest. They sit 17th in the Premier League with 18 points from 20 games and are only above the drop zone on goal difference.
After the same number of games last season they were 15th, with 20 points under Marcelo
Bielsa.
Leeds have subsequently backed Bielsa’s successor heavily on and off the pitch. They spent £130million on signings including Brenden
Aaronson, Tyler
Adams, Rasmus Kristensen and
Max Wober who
Marsch had worked with at other clubs.
The club broke their transfer record again in January to buy Georginio Rutter from Hoffenheim for £36m.
While the loan which brought Weston Mckennie from Juventus last month – the third American to join the ranks – contains an option to buy the midfielder at a price which would equal Rutter’s.
Both came off the bench to little effect at the City Ground where Leeds alarmingly ran out of ideas after a dominant first half.
Marsch even damningly admitted postmatch: “The guys off the bench were not able to bring enough into the match.
“It is difficult to have the right words for the team on exactly what is necessary.” In the end, Marsch’s side have won only four of their 20 league matches this season, with six draws and 10 defeats and he won only eight Premier League games in total.
The former coach of RB
Leipzig, New York
Red Bulls and Red
Bull Salzburg said after the Forest loss he would take “full responsibility”. But he probably was not expecting the axe less than 24 hours later.
His reign certainly will not be going down in Leeds history alongside the Elland Road greats such as Don Revie (inset top) and Howard Wilkinson (inset, below).
Even Lasso, who managed fictional side AFC Richmond, had had a longer shelf life after three Apple TV series about the American college football coach who is hired to take over at an English ‘soccer’ team and proves an unexpected success.
Leeds are still in the FA Cup and some of Marsch’s buys, such as exciting teenage winger Wilfried Gnonto, could yet leave a legacy if the club avoid relegation and then thrive.