On Wednesday morning U.S. time, I posted the first story for my newsletter. It’s on Jesse Marsch, the American coach at Leipzig, and I spent five days last week in Germany for it. Read it if you get a chance, but even if you haven’t read the story yet, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Marsch.
How do you think his Leipzig team will perform this season in the Bundesliga and Champions League? Do you think he’s onto something by attempting to bring a human connection to coaching in a country where he thinks the managers are too distant from the players? Do you think he should become the USMNT coach at some point? If so, when? And what stood out to you about the story?
To join the conversation, just type a comment below. I’m looking forward to hearing your opinions on all this, and I’ll chime in as well.
I disagree with the comments criticizing Marsch for saying he’d like to coach the USMNT some day. It’d be fitting for the most successful American that’s ever coached in Europe. But he himself says speculation about that is premature. The club game is the pinnacle, and Jesse is on the right path.
Like all our other countrymen in Europe, I’m rooting for his continued success. If he wins, WE win - more recognition, more focus, more spots on more teams for more US players.
Excellent read. I definitely see Jesse Marsch being in the USMNT conversation at some point, but 2026 might be too early. In any event, there should be a serious re-evaluation of both head coaching roles (USMNT and USWNT) for every new World Cup cycle. It could very well be that Gregg Berhalter will be ready to step away after 2022 and return to club soccer. Depending on how USMNT performs, he could find himself an enticing hire for a larger club after 2022.
Great story Grant. Love seeing Marsch and Americans in general find success in Europe. I found it interesting though he’d comment on the US job considering it is not vacant and Berhalter does not appear to be on the hot seat. Maybe they are friends and he didn’t seem to mean any offense by it but I thought it was odd for another coach in the coaching fraternity to comment on a job that wasn’t open.
Enjoyed the article, but not sure I get the Ted Lasso comparison.
As a RBNY fan, Marsch’s ambition and careerist willingness to buy into energy drink soccer always stood out.
He left NY midseason to go to Leipzig as an assistant, that doesn’t seem very Lasso-ish to me.
I’d also quibble a bit about the depiction of RBNY as a team without stars when Marsch took over. Clearly the team was pivoting from Henry/Cahill/Marquez type DPs but BWP was Golden Boot winner before Marsch and a lot of very good MLS players (RBNY now have far less established talent than likes of McCarty/Klestjan).
Miss having Marsch in NY, think he’s a good coach but think the better and more interesting Lasso comparison was the Athletic article about the rugby manager as soccer coach experiment that never really developed from a few weeks ago.
Regarding 2026...I hope it's an open competition for the job. I think one of the biggest mistakes USSF has ever made was re-signing Klinnsmann before the 2014 World Cup. GGG should have to show better than expected results through 2022/2023 to stay on the job.
The Bundesliga has obviously been dominated by Bayern for more than a decade now. If you look at this Leipzig side from top to bottom, their improved depth among the attacking players stands out. Signings such as Silva and Szoboszlai stand out as positives, with Sabitzer and Forsberg as the "old heads" set to lead a title charge. That being said, even on paper Bayern appear better. The cognitive emotional "Lasso-esque" approach may prove to be a difference maker, especially with the style of play from Leipzig. The sheer amount of energy expended by players to harass, harry and press, takes both a physical and mental toll. Leipzig need complete cohesion amongst teammates and staff, and win a Bundesliga title with the "we" over "I" approach to performance.
And as far as Jesse to the USMNT... 2026 seems like the perfect timing for that. ;)
I disagree with the comments criticizing Marsch for saying he’d like to coach the USMNT some day. It’d be fitting for the most successful American that’s ever coached in Europe. But he himself says speculation about that is premature. The club game is the pinnacle, and Jesse is on the right path.
Like all our other countrymen in Europe, I’m rooting for his continued success. If he wins, WE win - more recognition, more focus, more spots on more teams for more US players.
Great article, Grant. Keep ‘em coming.
Excellent read. I definitely see Jesse Marsch being in the USMNT conversation at some point, but 2026 might be too early. In any event, there should be a serious re-evaluation of both head coaching roles (USMNT and USWNT) for every new World Cup cycle. It could very well be that Gregg Berhalter will be ready to step away after 2022 and return to club soccer. Depending on how USMNT performs, he could find himself an enticing hire for a larger club after 2022.
Great story Grant. Love seeing Marsch and Americans in general find success in Europe. I found it interesting though he’d comment on the US job considering it is not vacant and Berhalter does not appear to be on the hot seat. Maybe they are friends and he didn’t seem to mean any offense by it but I thought it was odd for another coach in the coaching fraternity to comment on a job that wasn’t open.
I enjoyed this, Grant. All the best!
Enjoyed the article, but not sure I get the Ted Lasso comparison.
As a RBNY fan, Marsch’s ambition and careerist willingness to buy into energy drink soccer always stood out.
He left NY midseason to go to Leipzig as an assistant, that doesn’t seem very Lasso-ish to me.
I’d also quibble a bit about the depiction of RBNY as a team without stars when Marsch took over. Clearly the team was pivoting from Henry/Cahill/Marquez type DPs but BWP was Golden Boot winner before Marsch and a lot of very good MLS players (RBNY now have far less established talent than likes of McCarty/Klestjan).
Miss having Marsch in NY, think he’s a good coach but think the better and more interesting Lasso comparison was the Athletic article about the rugby manager as soccer coach experiment that never really developed from a few weeks ago.
Regarding 2026...I hope it's an open competition for the job. I think one of the biggest mistakes USSF has ever made was re-signing Klinnsmann before the 2014 World Cup. GGG should have to show better than expected results through 2022/2023 to stay on the job.
The Bundesliga has obviously been dominated by Bayern for more than a decade now. If you look at this Leipzig side from top to bottom, their improved depth among the attacking players stands out. Signings such as Silva and Szoboszlai stand out as positives, with Sabitzer and Forsberg as the "old heads" set to lead a title charge. That being said, even on paper Bayern appear better. The cognitive emotional "Lasso-esque" approach may prove to be a difference maker, especially with the style of play from Leipzig. The sheer amount of energy expended by players to harass, harry and press, takes both a physical and mental toll. Leipzig need complete cohesion amongst teammates and staff, and win a Bundesliga title with the "we" over "I" approach to performance.
And as far as Jesse to the USMNT... 2026 seems like the perfect timing for that. ;)