Jesse Marsch leaves RB Leipzig after five months in charge

RB Leipzig have "mutually agreed" to part ways with head coach Jesse Marsch after a disappointing start to the season.

The 48-year-old had only been in the role for five months, having succeeded Julian Nagelsmann in the dugout after he defected to Bundesliga supremos Bayern Munich.

But Marsch's tenure has seen Leipzig's high standards slip, and they currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga table following their sixth loss of the season against Union Berlin on Friday.

Die Roten Bullen have also disappointed in the Champions League, and may need a result in their final group game against Manchester City to ensure they don't crash out of Europe altogether.

Leipzig have been scoring a truck load of goals under Marsch, but it's their inefficiency at the back that has led to his demise - with the reasons for his departure outlined in a statement by Leipzig CEO, Oliver Mintzlaff.

"It was not easy for us to part company with Jesse Marsch, because I hold Jesse in high regard as a person and as a coach. It is a shame that things did not work out as we had hoped with this setup, and that this step has now become necessary," Mintzlaff said.

"Unfortunately, the development we were hoping for and the results needed to achieve our goals for the season have not been achieved. We are currently running short of our own expectations and with this decision we want to create a new impulse.

"Regardless of this, however, I also see our players as having a duty and I expect our team, which is very strong in sporting terms, to show its potential and quality on the pitch more consistently than it has done recently.

"I would like to thank Jesse Marsch for the work he has done and wish him all the best, both personally and professionally."

Marsch added: "I am very grateful to be part of the Red Bull family and to have been given this opportunity! Up until the very end, I remained hopeful that after a troubled start to the season and inconsistent performances, we would find more cohesion and stability as a group and turn our fortunes around.

"Unfortunately, we didn't manage to do that – after a discussion with Oliver Mintzlaff, we came to the joint decision to make a change in the coaching position.

"I keep only positive thoughts in my mind and wish for the club, the team, the staff and all the fans that RB Leipzig finds its way back to its old strengths very quickly and, given the quality in the team and in the club, I am sure that the club will achieve its goals."

Marsch has been a part of the Red Bull coaching programme for six years, having begun his coaching career with Montreal Impact in 2011. He spent three years coaching New York Red Bulls between 2015 and 2018, before moving to Germany to become assistant manager to Ralf Rangnick at Leipzig.

A year later, Marsch was handed the reins of Salzburg, and was instrumental in introducing Erling Haaland to the world stage. A successful two-year stint ultimately led to the top job at Leipzig, but Marsch will now look to rebuild his reputation elsewhere after failing to match the high standards of predecessor Nagelsmann.