Leeds will Marsch on together...
HE has gone nose-to-nose with David Beckham and stepped into the coaching shoes of fans’ favourites at New York Red Bulls, RB Leipzig and now Leeds.
But Jesse Marsch would not have it any other way – he has never ducked a challenge in his life.
Once again, he stood his ground and it is a mantra which has helped him deal with life at Elland Road.
He came in after the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa, who has been assured of a place in Leeds folklore, the most popular manager since Howard Wilkinson who won the title in 1992.
Not put off by the succession pressures at both New York and Leipzig, Marsch said yes to Leeds’ overtures after they surprisingly dispensed with Bielsa.
That happened despite Bielsa becoming a cult hero after ending the club’s 16-year exile from the Premier League.
Even now the spectre of the Argentine hovers over Marsch, Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani writing to Bielsa with a request to rename the training ground in his honour.
But Marsch is relaxed about the continual reverence of one of Elland Road’s favourite sons.
He knows he has the backing of the owner and sporting director Victor Orta to stamp his own identity on the team, which only survived in the Premier League on the last day of the season.
That was Bielsa’s side. Slowly, but surely, it’s becoming Marsch’s team, with an influx of new players such as fellow American Brenden Aaronson and Danish fullback Rasmus Kristensen replacing Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.
Three of his new signings have played under him at previous clubs, which will assist the switch to a Marsch DNA.
The 48-year-old said: “The way I was welcomed by everyone at the club, including the players, I’ve never felt better about being somewhere.”