Phil Hay has written in The Athletic that Victor Orta has been tracking reportedly imminent new Leeds manager Jesse Marsch for two years. Hay also reports that an announcement is expected over the next 24 hours.
Marsch, 48, is set to replace Marcelo Bielsa in the Elland Road dugout after the beloved Argentine was sacked by the Whites on Sunday morning. It comes after one point from a possible 15, conceding 20 goals in that time.
The American is without a club after a disappointing start to his Leipzig move, which saw him win eight of 21 games – but lose nine. He has excellent at Salzburg and New York Red Bulls in previous roles to Leipzig.
An agreement is said to be in place and the announcement of Marsch could come on Monday. That is according to Hay, who explains why Orta thinks Marsch is ideal as Bielsa’s replacement – and how long Orta has kept an eye.
“Orta’s view of Marsch was that his style would blend as closely as possible to that of Bielsa’s if one was to succeed the other, as should happen in the next 24 hours. The analysis of Marsch goes back two years,” Hay writes.
Orta on Marsch: Detailed analysis should give Leeds fans confidence
Leeds fans are understandably worried. They have decided to axe the man that got them into the Premier League – and his replacement is a manager who struggled at Leipzig, and has no prior Premier League experience.
It is a risk. Leeds fans have also had bad experiences with managers in the past. But now, they need to get behind Marsch. Orta’s work behind the scenes will give them a bit of reassurance – but results will do it, more so.
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