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…
Source : dailymail
