The identity of those who have influenced Jesse Marsch, the new Leeds United manager, may well cause a tremor of anxiety among the club’s fanbase. Ralf Rangnick and Bob Bradley would not exactly top the list for advice on how to crack the Premier League.
They have both been mentor and boss to the American, who makes no secret of their impact on the philosophies and practices he brings to Elland Road.
Former USA coach Bradley, whose association with Marsch, 48, dates back to university soccer, was the first American to manage in the Premier League when appointed by Swansea in October 2016. He was sacked come December.
New Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has coached Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig
The biggest challenge Bradley faced and one that proved insurmountable is the same that will confront Marsch — scepticism over the authority of an American accent at the head of an English club.
Consider the reaction of Manchester United’s players to Rangnick’s assistant Chris Armas, mockingly nicknamed ‘Ted Lasso’ after the hapless American coach from the TV comedy show. It may not be right, but that prejudice does exist.
‘It’s not easy for American coaches in Europe. We saw that with Bob Bradley,’ said Marsch in 2020, while in charge of Austrian club RB Salzburg.
He was assistant to Rangnick at RB Leipzig in 2018 having first met the German in 2015 when interviewed for the head coach role with New York Red Bulls.
‘When Ralf and I started talking, things got a bit heated. It almost became an argument,’ Marsch told The Coaches’ Voice. ‘I thought there was no way I was getting the job. I later got a call from the club president, “Ralf loved you!”.
‘It turned out we had very similar views about counter-pressing and transitions. Getting to know him then introduced me to a lot more detail in the game, and a deeper way of thinking about football.’
The American, pictured with Erling Haaland, won back-to-back domestic doubles at Salzburg
It was at Salzburg, independent of Rangnick but still within the Red Bull network, that Marsch earned his wings and won back-to-back domestic doubles.
With his side trailing Liverpool 3-0 after 36 minutes in a Champions League tie at Anfield, Marsch delivered a half-time talk later to be broadcast by the club. ‘How many fouls have we got?’ he asked of his team. ‘Maybe two? This is not a f****** friendly! This is a f****** Champions League match! We need to step up. They have to know we’re f****** here to compete.’
Salzburg were level by the hour, with goals from future Premier League strikers Hwang Hee-chan and Takumi Minamino, as well as Erling Haaland. Mo Salah later scored a winner for the hosts.
The success of his two seasons in Austria — with a goal difference of +177 — convinced Leipzig to bring him back as successor to Bayern Munich bound Julian Nagelsmann in July.
It did not go well and subsequent appraisals of his 21 matches — he won eight and left by mutual consent in December — would suggest Leeds have taken a gamble in replacing Marcelo Bielsa with a man of similar traits.
Marsch lasted 21 games in charge of RB Leipzig before leaving by mutual consent in December
Marsch, while liked by the players, was wedded to the attacking principles of Rangnick. Former Germany star Stefan Effenberg said that the coach’s preference to win a game 5-3 was not what Leipzig needed.
They, he said, required ‘belt and braces’. There were also accusations of Marsch not being tactically flexible. Sound familiar? Of his playing style, the former USA midfielder says: ‘The key is the idea of pressing to score goals; not thinking about possession when you win the ball, but thinking about how to get the ball forward and score as quickly as possible. Formations aren’t really so important to me.
‘I try to keep common themes in how we play and press rather than be consistent in the shape we play.
‘At the core of my philosophy is playing with tempo. It’s about playing the game at a faster speed than opponents can handle. I want the players to feel this isn’t just a style of play, it’s a way of life.’
Again, echoes of Bielsa. You assume that is the intention of sporting director Victor Orta — same approach, different voice. He has pushed for Marsch and was impressed with Leipzig during their 6-3 defeat at Manchester City in September.
Marsch pictured clashing with David Beckham while playing for Chivas USA back in 2007
Marcelo Bielsa’s three-and-a-half year tenure came to an end when he was sacked on Sunday
Leeds have conceded 20 goals in their last four games and taken one point from the last 18
After the appointment was confirmed on Monday, Orta said: ‘Jesse is someone we identified a number of years ago during his time at Red Bull Salzburg and we believe his philosophy and style of football aligns with that of the club and will suit the players very well.’
The influence of 49ers Enterprises — the club’s American 44 per cent stakeholders and likely future owners — should also be considered. Marsch spent his entire playing career in MLS and won coach of the year during his first season with New York.
He was assistant to Bradley at the 2010 World Cup, where USA topped England’s group before losing to Ghana in the last 16.
His stock is extremely high back home. But the Premier League is an entirely different currency. There are many pitfalls, especially for an American coach.
Bradley might not be a bad source of guidance after all.
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