Canada Soccer Announces Jesse Marsch as Men’s National Team Head Coach

Jesse Marsch has been named Head Coach for Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team (CANMNT), as announced today by Kevin Blue, its CEO and General Secretary. The appointment is effective immediately and Marsch will take over the preparation leading into this summer’s 2024 Copa America, where Canada opens the tournament against defending FIFA World Cup champions, Argentina on 20 June 2024. 

Marsch’s full coaching staff will be confirmed by Canada Soccer in the coming weeks.

“After extensive consultation with expert stakeholders and a rigorous search process, I am delighted to make today’s announcement. Jesse is a transformational leader who will drive progress for our men’s national team – and for Canadian soccer more broadly – as we enter the most important time in the domestic history of our sport. He’s been a successful manager at the highest levels of global football, helped advance a Concacaf nation out of the group stage at the FIFA World Cup, and is an experienced builder who will make a significant impact on the landscape of our sport. I’m excited to welcome him back to Canada.” ​
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​- Kevin Blue, CEO & General Secretary, Canada Soccer

Before the 2024 Copa America tournament begins, Marsch will also lead Canada in friendlies against FIFA ranked top-10 opponents, Netherlands and France on 6 June and 9 June, respectively. 

“It is an absolute honour to represent and lead the Canadian Men’s National Team in our preparation for a home World Cup. The combination of the new leadership inside of Canada Soccer coupled with the potential of this dynamic player pool has inspired me, and I am ready and eager to take on this massive responsibility. My excitement and anticipation to get started are immense. One of my main goals will be to help unite the soccer community in Canada to support our efforts to be successful on and off the pitch. All In for 2026!” ​
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​- Jesse Marsch, Men’s National Team Head Coach 

Former Canadian internationals Tosaint Ricketts, Atiba Hutchinson, and Rob Friend – who also represented the Canadian Premier League during the interview process – participated in candidate interviews that ultimately resulted in the hiring of Marsch. Additional consultation during the search was provided by numerous stakeholders with ties to CANMNT, including Josh Simpson, Valerio Gazzola, Tony Fonseca, and Julian de Guzman. 

“I’m excited to welcome Jesse to our Canadian soccer family and can’t wait to see where he takes this team of exceptionally talented players.”
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​- Peter Augruso, President, Canada Soccer

Philanthropic Support from MLS Owners

The appointment of Marsch is assisted by major philanthropic contributions from the owners of the three Canadian-based MLS clubs – Vancouver Whitecaps, Joey Saputo, and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – and supplemented by other private donors. In recognition of their significant philanthropic support, Marsch’s position will be formally titled as the MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach during the term of his initial contract. This type of donor recognition is common at universities and hospitals, in NCAA sports, and is starting to be used in the Canadian sport system – for example, with the Stollery Family Women’s National Team Head Coach support at Golf Canada.

These commitments are part of a forthcoming major gifts program that will provide Canadian philanthropists with a structured opportunity to support Canada Soccer programs of all types – including the Men’s and Women’s National Team systems, from youth teams up through the senior national teams.

Jesse Marsch’s Journey Back to Canada

Marsch, a former U.S. international, played 14 seasons as a midfielder for three Major League Soccer teams, winning the U.S. Open cup four times, three MLS Cup titles, and the Supporters Shield once.

His coaching journey began in 2010 as an assistant coach on Bob Bradley’s staff that helped the United States Men’s National Team reach the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. 

Marsch started his relationship with Canadian soccer in 2012 when he was named the inaugural manager of the 19^th MLS expansion franchise, the Montreal Impact (now CF Montréal). ​ In 2015, he assumed the head coaching role at New York Red Bulls and led the club to the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a club record 18 league victories. Marsch was named the MLS Coach of the Year. Marsch remains the New York Red Bulls most successful manager in their history, with 76 victories.

In 2018, Marsch’s journey with the Red Bull soccer group continued as he left New York to join RB Leipzig in Germany’s Bundesliga as assistant manager to Ralph Rangnick. After a successful 2018/19 season with Leipzig that saw a third-placed finish in the Bundesliga, a cup final appearance, and the club competing in the UEFA Europa League, he departed to join his third club within the Red Bull multi-club network as the manager of FC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Bundesliga. After he joined in the summer of ​ 2019, Marsch’s impact at Salzburg was immediate and he led the club to a league and cup double in both of his seasons in charge as manager. This made him the first American head coach to win a top-flight league title in Europe. The league championships brought UEFA Champions League qualification, and Marsch’s legacy was cemented with Salzburg fans when he led the team to a 6-2 victory against KRC Genk in their first-ever group stage match.

Marsch re-joined RB Leipzig in 2021, this time as manager. He successfully guided them to qualify for the UEFA Champions League through the play-off round. They subsequently finished third in their group, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League knockout stages. ​ He departed the club in December 2021, and it wasn’t long before he embarked on the next stage of a football journey that has seen him coach in 5 countries to date.

Marsch joined Leeds United in England’s Premier League in February 2022, and he guided them to safety from relegation in the 2022/23 season with a final-day win at Brentford. This victory saw Leeds become the only club to escape relegation when entering the final day of the season in the league’s bottom three teams. He then oversaw the club’s summer 2022 transfer window, where club record transfer sales were achieved. ​ His departure came at a time when the club sat in 12th in the Premier League for non-penalty expected goals, and the club led the league in disruption of opposition passes by a large margin.

In total, Marsch has coached 339 matches, boasting a 170-66-103 record across his managerial career, and becomes the 20^th head coach in Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team history.