HARRISON, N.J. (November 24, 2015) – New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch has been named MLS Coach of the Year, Major League Soccer announced today. Marsch guided New York to the best record in MLS, and best regular season in franchise history, in his first year with the club. Marsch is the first coach in franchise history to be named MLS Coach of the Year.
The MLS Coach of the Year Award was voted on by MLS club management, media, and MLS players. Marsch claimed over 50% of the votes from club management, and just under 65% of the vote from the media. A breakdown of the voting results is below.
Marsch and the Red Bulls captured the Supporters’ Shield with an 18–10-6 record and the best goal differential in the league (+19), setting new franchise-highs in wins (18) and home wins (12). The Red Bulls also scored the most goals in MLS, at 62, and allowed the fewest in the Eastern Conference. New York was shutout just twice in the regular season.
The Red Bulls opened the season with a seven-game unbeaten streak, the longest in MLS in 2015. New York spent the entire season at or near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, and went 14-5-1 over the last 20 games on the run to the Supporters’ Shield.
Marsch’s side was also tough on the road, posting the second-most road wins in MLS with a 6-7-4 record, scoring the most road goals (27) and finishing as the only team in MLS with a positive road goal differential.
Marsch is the sixth former MLS player to win the award. During his 14-year MLS playing career, Marsch played for four coaches when they won the MLS Coach of the Year award: Bruce Arena, D.C. United (1997); Bob Bradley, Chicago Fire (1998); Dave Sarachan, Chicago Fire (2003); and Preki, Chivas USA (2007).
Marsch and the Red Bulls are back at Red Bull Arena Sunday, November 29 for the second leg of the MLS Eastern Conference Championship against Columbus Crew SC. New York trails, 2-0 on aggregate, after last weekend’s first leg at Columbus’ MAPFRE Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes and Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish.
Fans attending the sold-out match are encouraged to arrive early with increased security measures around Red Bull Arena.
