UPDATE: April 29, 9:15 am ET – Jesse Marsch will become the head coach of German Bundesliga title contenders RB Leipzig for the 2021-22 season, it was announced Thursday, joining from sister club Red Bull Salzburg on a two-year contract until June 2023.
Marsch, whose MLS coaching career included New York Red Bulls and CF Montréal stints, is replacing Julian Nagelsmann as he departs for Bayern Munich, the reigning UEFA Champions League winners.
"In Jesse Marsch, we have been able to recruit our main head coach target and quickly fill the most important position in the sporting side of the club with a top coach," RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff said in a release.
During his first season at Red Bull Salzburg, Marsch won the Austrian double (league, cup) in 2019-20. He could repeat that feat in 2020-21, with Die Roten Bullen facing LASK in the Austrian Cup final May 1 and holding first place in the league table.
After the announcement was made Thursday, congratulations followed across the American soccer community. Just three years ago, the 47-year-old was coaching in MLS before testing himself overseas.
ORIGINAL: April 28, 1:12 pm ET – Former New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch will reportedly be named the next head coach of Bundesliga powerhouse RB Leipzig, making the jump from sister club Red Bull Salzburg.
Derek Rae, ESPN’s lead Bundesliga commentator, said Marsch will replace Julian Nagelsmann, who departed for Bayern Munich. German publication Kicker also reported that an agreement between Marsch and Leipzig is in place with the American having turned down approaches from Eintracht Frankfurt and Premier League side Tottenham.
Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano also tweeted Wednesday afternoon that a deal was done.
Marsch, who coached CF Montréal and RBNY before making the move to Europe, has been on an upward trajectory since arriving as a Leipzig assistant in July, 2018.
A little less than a year later, Marsch was appointed Salzburg manager and became the first American to coach in the UEFA Champions League and win a major European trophy when he guided Salzburg to the Austrian Cup.
Rae tweeted there are some particulars still to be worked out, including a fee between the sister clubs.
