Jesse Marsch has signed a two-year contract with RB Leipzig. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
Former Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch is now a Red Bull assistant coach.
RB Leipzig announced Monday that Marsch will be new RB Leipzig head coach Ralf Rangnick’s top lieutenant for the 2018-19 Bundesliga season.
Marsch signed a two-year contract with the club, Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said on the club’s Twitter feed.
Marsch stepped down as the Red Bulls head man Thursday after three years in charge. He was succeeded by his assistant coach, Chris Armas.
“He undoubtedly has the potential to become a head coach in Europe as well,” Mintzlaff said about Marsch on the team’s website. “He is an absolute team player and will come to Leipzig with his whole family. ”
Rangnick, the RB Leipzig sporting director, was named head coach, replacing Ralph Hasenhüttl, who parted ways with the club in May. Rangnick guided the club to its first promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016.
“We have worked together for a long time now and now we have found the best solution to continue on our successful path,” Mintzlaff said.
During Rangnick’s first tenure from May 2015-May 2016, Leipzig won almost 60 percent of its matches.
The 44-year-old Marsch had guided the Red Bulls into second place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-4-2 mark and 32 points before Sunday’s Hudson River Derby match against New York City FC. City won at Yankee Stadium, 1-0.
Since joining the Red Bulls under controversial circumstances in 2015 — Marsch replaced the popular Mike Petke, who was fired — he directed the New Jersey side to a 58-35-25 mark. Using a pressing defense, the Red Bulls captured the Supporters Shield in 2015 and took first place in the Eastern Conference in 2016. New York finished sixth to reach the MLS Cup playoffs last season.
