Jesse Marsch: Leeds sack head coach after one year in charge amid Premier League relegation battle

Jesse Marsch replaced Marcelo Bielsa in February 2022 and kept Leeds in the Premier League last season; however, American leaves the club 17th in the table and only out of the drop zone on goal difference; Marsch oversaw more than £140m of spending on players this season

Jesse Marsch has been sacked as Leeds head coach after one year in the job.

Marsch has been dismissed with the club only above the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of two Premier League meetings with Manchester United this week.

The 49-year-old was appointed as the successor to Marcelo Bielsa in February 2022 and helped preserve the club’s Premier League status, which was secured with a dramatic final day win at Brentford in May.

Marsch then oversaw more than £140m of spending across the summer and January transfer windows, but Leeds find themselves at the wrong end of the table in 17th place.

Leeds have announced Michael Skubala, Paco Gallardo and Chris Armas will coach the team until a replacement for Marsch is found, including for the Premier League game at Manchester United on Wednesday.

Skubala was named as the club’s U21 head coach in 2022, Gallardo is the development coach, and Armas joined in January after previously working at Man Utd.

Marsch’s final game in charge was the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, which extended their winless run in the Premier League to seven matches.

Leeds also confirmed coaches Rene Maric, Cameron Toshack and Pierre Barrieu have also left the club.

“We would like to thank Jesse and his backroom staff for their efforts and wish them well for the future,” Leeds said in a statement.

“The process of appointing a new head coach is under way and we will continue to keep supporters up to date throughout the coming days.”

Speaking after Sunday’s loss to Forest in what proved to be his final post-match interview as Leeds boss, Marsch told Sky Sports: “I’m frustrated and disappointed.

“I have to find a way to get more out of the group. I have to make sure that we don’t feel sorry for ourselves. We have to find a way to stay strong and keep going. But I take responsibility. I have to find a way to get more out of us to make sure when we’re on top of games, we don’t lose them.

“It feels like it’s moving in the right direction, but it’s not enough. We have to get more out of it.”

Could Corberan replace Marsch at Leeds?

Sky Sports News senior reporter Tim Thornton:

“The one name that has been linked at the moment is Carlos Corberan, who was part of the set-up here when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge.

“He coached the U21s before being promoted to work alongside Bielsa and then went to Huddersfield and had success before going to Olympiakos and then onto West Brom where he has hit the ground running.

“He’s in a job at the moment, so it remains to be seen whether Leeds will make an approach, but he’s the one name that has really emerged for this job.

“What I will say is that Leeds will have a contingency plan. They had a contingency plan when Bielsa left the club a year ago. Jesse Marsch was appointed very, very quickly and they will have a contingency plan again.

“They will have their candidate in mind and I expect them to move pretty quickly on this.”