Latest News

“Right up there” – Leeds United’s Jesse Marsch praised as international question mooted

|
Image for “Right up there” – Leeds United’s Jesse Marsch  praised as international question mooted

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has been backed to succeed USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter in the future.

With the international break still ongoing this week, there is plenty of discussion about the relationship between club and country, as a host of Leeds’ squad compete for their countries at the minute.

The Whites’ American connection with players, the manager, and the ownership bringing them to the forefront of the discussion where US coverage of the Premier League is concerned.

Marsch seems to have catalysed that discourse, with his management seeing Leeds to safety last season in the Premier League by the skin of their teeth.

He will have much more ambitious goals in mind not only for this season, but beyond that, as he aims to take Leeds much closer to the top half and then the European debate.

Personal goals might come into view for Marsch too, having claimed previously that he would be open to taking over the USMNT manager’s position – as he commented on the prospect of coaching Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic.

Former Premier League and US international goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes the Leeds chief would be a good candidate for the role.

Speaking to Lehigh Valley Live (via 90min), he stated:

“Could I see him coaching the US National Team some day? Absolutely, the way that his trajectory has gone.

“Whether he wants to or not at some stage in his career, that is another question, because a national team coach is far different than a club team coach. You have a lot of time off. 

“I have spoken to Gregg Berhalter about it, because he has obviously been a club coach as well, and Gregg is still really young in terms of being a national team coach. You have a lot of downtime compared to what you do with club coaching day-to-day.

“I know Jesse, but I am not a close, personal friend where I talk to him all the time to know what he wants to do. But I could see, if the job ever came up again, and he put his name in the ring, or I could see US Soccer wanting to go interview him, yeah. In the group of 45-55-year-old coaches in the US, he is right up there with the best.”

Should Gnonto go straight into the first-team?

Yes

Yes

No

No

I can see Marsch being keen to take on the job, but not before he feels like he has taken this project as far as he can here.

There would be no point in us appointing Marsch in place of Marcelo Bielsa if either party saw the agreement as a stop-gap.

We want him long-term and he surely wants to stay here as long as possible.

The US job would be a very good one for him, as they’re a footballing nation very much improving by the year, and he could help bring them even further.

1 of 20

Is Elland Road's capacity higher or lower than Bramall Lane?

Share this article

Leeds United season ticket holder since 2013/14, currently situated in the middle of the FA5 noise. From Pablo Hernandez to 5-1 drubbings, I've seen it all at Elland Road.