Canada Soccer made a significant announcement on Monday as the organization unveiled Jesse Marsch as the newest head coach of the Canadian men’s national team.

The appointment is effective immediately, which means Marsch will be in charge for this summer’s Copa America tournament, as well as marquee upcoming friendlies against France and the Netherlands in early June.

Marsch’s contract runs until the end of July 2026, meaning he is expected to lead the team into the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be played in Canada (co-hosted by the United States and Mexico) for the first time.

The 50-year-old from Wisconsin joins the organization with an outstanding resumé that includes time spent as the head coach of Leeds United in the English Premier League and RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. He won the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Coach of the Year in 2015 with the New York Red Bulls and began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the United States men’s national team.

He also previously worked in Canada as the head coach of the Montreal Impact (now CF Montréal) between 2011 and 2012. Marsch has a reputation for his high tempo, high press style of play, popularized by the Red Bull group, as well as having very good working relationships with his players.

Marsch succeeds John Herdman as permanent Canada manager, who after leading the country to its first FIFA World Cup in 2022, left the post in August 2023 to pursue a position as head coach with Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC. Since that point, Mauro Biello has served as interim national team manager — including qualifying Canada for the 2024 Copa América with a recent win over Trinidad and Tobago in March.