Who Will Take Over the job at Leeds United?
Jesse Marsch became the latest Premier League manager to be relieved of his duties when Leeds United sacked the 49-year-old American on February 6. Marsch had only been in charge of the Yorkshire club since February 28, 2022, but a dreadful run of results has seen the Leeds United board fire Marsch and start the hunt for his replacement.
Marsch was onto a hiding to nothing after taking over from Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, the world-renowned coach that guided Leeds United back into the Premier League after 16 years in the wilderness. The American managed to keep Leeds in the Premier League with a final-day victory over Burnley, but his Whites have never kicked on and progressed; some say the Leeds team has gotten worse despite significant investment. Under Marsch, Leeds have only won four games from 21 in the Premier League this season and have yet to secure all three points since a 4-3 victory over Bournemouth on November 5, a run of seven games without a win. Marsch leaves his post with Leeds in 17th place, one place above the relegation zone, with only a superior goal difference keeping the Whites out of the bottom three.
Managerless Leeds are now the fourth-favourites for relegation this season, ahead of only Bournemouth, Southampton, and Everton. Everton recently changed their manager after Sean Dyche replaced the sacked Frank Lampard, so the Toffees could soon see a change in their fortunes. Leeds United needs to appoint a new head coach that can galvanize the playing squad and start picking up vital points with less than half of the season remaining. The latest odds at the top online sportsbook Bet Online suggest it is a four-horse race to take over the hot set at the Elland Rod club.
West Brom’s Corberan Favourite For the Leeds Job
Carlos Corberan is the odds-on favourite to become the next permanent Leeds United manager. Corberan is currently in charge of Championship side West Bromwich Albion, who he has guided from the bottom three in the table to a playoff place. Corberan was formerly the head of Leeds’ Under 23s while Bielsa was Leeds boss before leaving to become the number one at Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town. He guided Huddersfield to the playoff finals but left to manage Greek outfit Olympiakos. His time in Greece was short, and he took the WBA job after being sacked by Olympiakos after only 11 games and the team being sixth in the table.
Spain’s Adoni Iraola is the latest name tipped to become the new Leeds head honcho. The former right-back played more than 400 games for Athletico Bilbao, many when Bielsa was in charge of the Spanish La Liga outfit. Iraola has worked wonders with Rayo Vallecano despite working on a shoestring budget. He is untested at this level but is a Bielsa disciple who plays attractive attacking football.
Third on the list is former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. The Austrian is a product of the Red Bull system like Marsch is, and like four of the current Leeds United playing squad are. Hasenhuttl would not be a popular choice despite having Premier League experience because he prefers a 4-2-2-2 formation, which Marsch used to ill effect during his tenure at the club. The Leeds fans will not forget Hassenhuttl’s Southampton lost 9-0 twice during his time at the club.
In single figures in the betting markets, but still, a highly unlikely appointment is Mauricio Pochettino. Again, Pochettino has Bielsa links, having played under him for Newell’s Old Boys while Bielsa was head coach. He started his managerial career with Espanyol before managing Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Paris St. Germain. Pochettino had long been linked with the Manchester United and Real Madrid jobs, so it is unlikely at best that he would go to a team fighting relegation and not one chasing Champions League honours.
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