Mighty Leeds Weblog

MK Dons have named Leeds United coach Mark Jackson as their new boss. The 45-year-old replaces Liam Manning, who was sacked on 11 December with the team next to bottom of League One. His first game in charge will be at home to Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day, followed by trips to Peterborough United and current leaders Plymouth. "The identity of the club fits with me. They want to dominate the ball and I can continue that but enhance it as well," Jackson said. "We've got a lot of things to do in a short space of time, we know we have to impact things on the pitch. "I've got ideas of how to do that and how I can tweak certain things. If we can get little things right then we can start to make progress on the pitch," he told BBC Three Counties Radio. Of the past seven head coaches appointed by MK Dons, Jackson, who oversaw training on Friday, is the fourth to be given his first post in senior club management by them, following Karl Robinson ...

Leeds United are finally closing in on a return to Premier League action and Whites boss Jesse Marsch held his pre-match press conference today ahead of next week’s hosting of Manchester City. Lee Sobot Leeds signed off for the World Cup break with a 4-3 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur way back on Saturday, November 12. Forty-six days later, the Whites will return to action next Wednesday evening with the visit of Pep Guardiola’s defending champions and odds-on title favourites City. City are in EFL Cup action this evening at home to Liverpool in their first game back after the World Cup at which they had 16 players representing the club. Leeds had three players in action in Qatar in USA international duo Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson plus Rasmus Kristensen with Denmark. As part of the six-and-a-half week pause to the season, Marsch’s side took in a week-long training camp in Spain where they recorded a 2-1 victory against Elche on the back of a win against Preston North End in ...

Leeds United assistant Mark Jackson has shared details of facing new Whites boss Jesse Marsch as a player back in May 1997. By Lee Sobot Marsch was a 23-year-old midfielder for DC United at the time whilst Jackson was a 19-year-old defender coming through the Academy ranks at Leeds who followed the end of the 1996-97 campaign with a tour of the USA. Leeds took on DC United at the RFK Stadium in Washington DC on May 16, 1997 and Jackson lined up for Leeds as Marsch also started for the hosts. Played against each other in 1997 & pulled this out today ….full circle……who would have guessed !! 👊🏻🤝 #mot ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/bOuhlP2zSh — Mark Jackson (@jacko55555) April 14, 2022 Taking to social media, Jackson shared a photograph of himself and Marsch holding a DC United shirt with Marsch's name on the back as well as a matchday team sheet from the game. Jackson wrote: "Played against each other in 1997 and pulled this out today. Full circle. Who would have guessed....

Mark Jackson says it will take time for Leeds United to break old habits and learn new ones but he believes Jesse Marsch's style of play is 'perfect' for the club. By Graham Smyth The interim first team coach, promoted from the Under 23s when the American arrived a month ago, is providing somewhat of a link between the old and the new at Thorp Arch. Jackson worked closely with Marcelo Bielsa's staff, preparing young players for first team involvement and steeping the academy hopefuls in Bielsaball. His Under 23s played the same brand of football that took both the Championship and Premier League by storm during Bielsa's era, before the Argentine was sacked following a poor run of results. Marsch was due to arrive in the summer but club owner Andrea Radrizzani accelerated his succession plan and introduced the new man with a dozen games left in the Premier League season. One of the key reasons director of football Victor Orta earmarked Marsch as the man t...

Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch delivered "bad news" to Mark Jackson during their first conversation, the former Under 23s coach has revealed. By Flora Snelson After the staff of departing head coach Marcelo Bielsa left with the Argentine, building a coaching team was one of Marsch's first jobs on his appointment as the new United boss on February 28. The same day, Jackson was down in London managing his Under 23s side who were facing Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League 2 clash at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. The game ended in a 1-1 draw but the result will not live as long in Jackson's memory as the first conversation between him and Marsch. On the call, the American offered Jackson the opportunity to join Cameron Toshack and Franz Schiemer and become part of his first team coaching staff. Jackson said he was unflustered by what his promotion meant for the following day's work. "He [Marsch] said 'I've got a bit of bad news for ...

Leeds United were at it again at Wolves, putting themselves and their fans through hell before turning Molineux into heaven. By Graham Smyth A game that was lost at half-time, with a two-goal deficit and three players off injured, was dragged back to life in sensational scenes. Goals from Jack Harrison, Rodrigo and Luke Ayling gave Jesse Marsch a second win in a row and a huge three points in the battle for survival. Good day "These decisions are killing teams" #LUFC https://t.co/Q8IQ91SiIO — Leeds United News (@LeedsUnitedYEP) March 19, 2022 Kristoffer Klaesson What a time to make your first team debut. There have been big questions asked and doubts expressed about the young Norwegian but his performance at Wolves was one of bravery and skill. Made one sublime save late on that secured the win. Luke Ayling A man on a mission. Got his reward for his second half performance. The celebration was abysmal but no one cared, least of all Ayling. Rodrigo He's...

Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch will take the memory of Joe Gelhardt's late Elland Road winner against Norwich City to his deathbed. By Graham Smyth Marsch watched his men produce a vastly-improved display than the one that led to a 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Thursday, at home to the league's bottom side, and Leeds were well worth the three points. But it took incredible drama to seal a first win in nine outings, one that snapped a six-game losing streak. Leeds led from the 14th minute, Rodrigo opening the scoring with a goal Norwich City disputed due to Patrick Bamford's offside position. VAR Mike Dean deduced that Bamford, who got his first start since September, was not interfering with play however and allowed it to stand. Dean was involved throughout, checking a Luke Ayling tackle that could easily have earned him a red card instead of the yellow he received, and then recommending referee Stuart Attwell take a look at his penalty decision for Ayling...

Leeds United are pleased to confirm Jesse Marsch’s backroom team that will be in place until the end of the season. Franz Schiemer joins the Whites having previously worked with Marsch as his Assistant Head Coach at Red Bull Salzburg. As a player, the 35-year-old made over 150 appearances for Salzburg winning 25 caps for the Austrian national team. Former Swansea City coach Cameron Toshack also joins the new-look set up having left his role as Head Coach at Cypriot First Division side Pafos FC in October 2020. Toshack brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked at both Academy and first team levels since 2011. Finally, Jesse will be supported by our current Under-23s Head Coach Mark Jackson who will move up to first team duties. Jackson is a popular figure at Elland Road and has overseen the development of various players who are now involved with the first team squad. Former Middlesbrough and Cardiff City player Andrew Taylor will step in as interim Under-23 Head C...

It has been an up and down year for Leeds United’s academy in 2021. By Joe Urquhart Mark Jackson toasted huge success in the summer after guiding the club’s development side into the top tier of England’s elite academy structure. Leeds, at the first time of asking as a category one training facility, romped to the Division Two title in the Premier League 2. The Whites were no match for any of their rivals, claiming the league by a margin of 11 points – earning 18 victories, two draws and losing four times. Jackson saw his side concede just 29 goals in 24 league games last term but a summer of change has meant a mixed end to 2021. Football doesn’t stand still at whatever level you ply your trade – be it in the Premier League or in the ranks below. Fast forward six months and United sit 13th in the top tier of the PL2 following promotion, holding one of the bottom two relegation places heading into the new year. The transition has been tough due to a number of reasons – f...