Leeds set to appoint Jesse Marsch: Can the American manager keep the club in the Premier League?

*Leeds have since confirmed the appointment of Jesse Marsch on a deal running through to June 2025*

Leeds United are expected to name Jesse Marsch as their new head coach, with an appointment imminent.

Should all go to plan in the final negotiations, the former RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg and New York Red Bulls boss will replace iconic Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, who departed the West Yorkshire club on Sunday.

What Bielsa achieved at Leeds will never be forgotten. From the rip-roaring and lung-busting brand of football, to the meticulous dedication to his craft, fascinating idiosyncrasies, and the way he immersed himself into the city of Leeds.

However, there’s no getting away from the fact that Leeds have endured a torrid time of late. Wins have evaporated, they’re conceding goals for fun, and now dangle perilously above the relegation zone.

Marsch’s immediate task is simple: keep Leeds in the Premier League. The American has 12 games to kick the club into gear, shore up the defence, and get some prized points on the board.

We take a look at Marsch’s managerial background, Leeds’ form, fixtures, and prices to stay up and go down…

What’s Marsch’s managerial record like?

Marsch has over 10 years of outright managerial experience under his belt from four clubs in three different leagues.

The 48-year-old worked as the USA’s assistant manager before taking charge of Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls in the MLS, winning the Supporters' Shield and MLS Coach of the Year with the latter.

He then jetted to Europe where he led Red Bull Salzburg to consecutive Austrian league and cup doubles, and also into the Champions League where they memorably came back from 3-0 down away to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool at Anfield, only to heartbreakingly lose 4-3.

Last summer, Marsch then stepped into his biggest job to date after he was appointed as Julian Nagelsmann’s successor at yet another Red Bull club: RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

Unfortunately, Marsch lasted less than five months in the hot-seat. Leipzig, who had finished in the top-3 for the last three seasons, were down in 11th when the club decided to pull the trigger after a return of five wins from 14 games.

Up until then, Marsch’s career had been on an upwards trajectory, however the opening at Leeds gives the 48-year-old the ideal opportunity to bounce back in one of the continent’s major leagues.

Marsch, who is yet another disciple of Ralf Rangnick, favours a high-pressing and high-intensity style which is not world’s away from Bielsa’s brand of football, although the American will no doubt adopt a more pragmatic approach in a bid to patch-up a porous backline.

Jesse Marsch’s Win Rates

- Montreal Impact: 33.33%

- New York Red Bulls: 49.67%

- Red Bull Salzburg: 68.09%

- RB Leipzig: 38.10%

What’s Leeds’ run-in like?

Leeds have 12 games remaining; six at home and six away.

Marsch’s first match in charge is likely to be away to Leicester on Saturday, followed by back-to-back home games against Aston Villa and Norwich, then a trip to Wolves just before March’s international break.

Leeds then do battle with Southampton (h), Watford (a), Chelsea (h), Crystal Palace (a), and Man City (h) in what promises to be a busy and potentially defining month of April, before their final three matches away to Arsenal, at home to Brighton, and a season-ending trip to Brentford.

What form are they in?

Leeds have lost their last four matches in a row, conceding a staggering 17 goals in the process. They’ve taken just one point from the last 18 available since a 3-2 win at West Ham in mid-January.

Going back further, Leeds have only recorded two wins from 12 over the course of the last three months.

As a result, Leeds are down in 16th, just two points above the relegation zone having played two games more than the immediate two teams below them: Everton and Burnley.

What price are they to stay up?

Leeds can currently be found at 1/2 (William Hill) to avoid the dreaded drop, alongside Thomas Frank’s Brentford and Sean Dyche’s Burnley.

The likes of Newcastle and Everton are far shorter at 1/12 and 2/11 respectively, while the bookies aren’t particularly optimistic about Watford (10/3) and Norwich (15/2).

What price are they to go down?

Norwich are the red-hot 1/12 favourites to plummet straight back down to the Championship, followed by Watford at 1/4.

Burnley, Leeds, and Brentford are all hovering around similar prices, although SBK have Leeds available at a best-priced 9/5 to suffer relegation.

Everton and Newcastle are further afield at 47/10 and 9/1 respectively.