Jesse Marsch, pictured coaching the Red Bulls in 2018, is looking for a new job. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
Jesse Marsch’s journey to the top of the Red Bull soccer empire is over.
He was fired by RB Leipzig on Sunday.
It should come as no surprise as there was fierce speculation that the 48-year-old head coach’s days were numbered after the Bundesliga team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Union Berlin on Friday.
Marsch, who started his Red Bulls run with the New York Red Bulls in 2015 before he left for Red Bull Salzburg (Austria) three years later, departs Leipzig with the club in awful shape. It has lost three consecutive matches, is in 11th place in the league (5-6-3, 18 points) and has failed to reach the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League.
Leipzig had never sacked a coach since it joined the Bundesliga in 2016 – until Marsch’s firing.
Assistant coach Achim Beierlorzer was named interim coach.
“RB Leipzig and head coach Jesse Marsch have mutually agreed to part ways,” the club said in a statement on its website. “The decision is the result of an in-depth analysis and intensive discussions after the Bundesliga match against Union Berlin.
“Jesse Marsch will be released with immediate effect and assistant coach Achim Beierlorzer will take charge of the team ahead of the upcoming home [Champions League] game against Manchester City.”
RB Leipzig said that a successor “will be announced in the near future.”
Marsch, who took over as boss from Julian Nagelsmann for this season, was forced to watch the last two contests from home as he recovers from COVID-19. Before the Leipzig job, he directed Red Bull Salzburg for several seasons as it reached this year’s Champions League while winning the double (Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup) for two consecutive seasons.
