Jesse Marsch was hired as coach of the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, only hours after the Major League Soccer team dumped Mike Petke after two seasons in charge.

Marsch won three MLS crowns in a 14-year MLS playing career that ended in 2009, netting 31 goals, and guided the Montreal Impact to 12 wins in 34 matches in its inaugural MLS campaign in 2012 before parting ways with the Canadian club by mutual consent.

"I'm honored to be joining a franchise like the New York Red Bulls," Marsch said. "I'm excited to get going with our players and sporting staff as we prepare for the 2015 season."

Petke guided the Red Bulls to the team's only major trophy in 2013, capturing the Supporters' Shield for having the best MLS regular-season record, before an Eastern Conference playoff loss to Houston ended dreams of a championship.

Marsch, 41, managed two US caps and was an assistant to US coach Bob Bradley at the 2010 World Cup.

The switch from one American coach to another comes a week after the team replaced sporting director Andy Roxburgh with Ali Curtis.

"We're excited to bring someone on who has both MLS and US Men's national team coaching experience and we strongly believe he is the right candidate to lead our team going forward," Curtis said.

Petke, 38, played for the Red Bulls in 169 matches before retiring in 2010 and serving as a Red Bulls assistant coach in 2011 and 2012.

In 2013, he took over the Red Bulls and carved out a record of 30 wins, 19 draws and 19 defeats in league play over two seasons. The team lost to New England in the 2014 East playoff finals.

The Red Bulls will face a new rival in America's biggest market as New York City FC, backed by Premier League side Manchester City and baseball's New York Yankees, will begin MLS play with Frank Lampard set to jump to the club at mid-season.