THE CLOCK AND BULL STORY
AMERICAN JOINS BOSS RACE MICHAEL GANNON
IT’S not just the club’s coffers that are fuelled by Red Bull. Jesse Marsch’s high-speed Salzburg side plays like it’s been pumped full of the energy drink.
Marsch has shot to the top of the managerial wish list for Celtic fans after issuing what sounded suspiciously like a come-and-get-me plea.
He has been tipped for the gig by the likes of John Collins and the American said: “It’s an amazing club and it would be an honour to even be considered.”
The 47-year-old has been part of the Red Bull football revolution with a spell in charge at New York and as assistant at RB Leipzig.
Hoops fans might not have known much about the man from Wisconsin but ex-Hearts favourite Thomas Flogel has been watching his work in Austria and is convinced he would get Celtic flying again.
He said: “The job Marsch has done at Salzburg has been very impressive. The Red Bull clubs are seen more like a company than a traditional football club but if you go there as a coach or a player you know there are certain things you need to do.
“You have to play very quick, offensive football, develop players and have success. He managed to do that right from the start.
“It’s a bit like Celtic and Rangers in Scotland, the teams with the most money have the better players and tend to win.
“Salzburg are similar but the difference is they way they m.gannon@dailyrecord.co.uk play. I played for a fantastic Austria Vienna side a few years ago and there were some weeks when you’d turn up against the smaller teams and think, ‘We’ll win this game with no problems.’
“But with Salzburg they play at an incredibly high level every match. They are at the same pace and quality week in, week out. They push forward and press constantly. I have to take my hat off to them because that’s not easy.
“They are relentless. It doesn’t matter if they are 2-0 up – they keep coming at you for more. They want four, five six, they don’t stop until the referee blows his whistle.”
Marsch has a reputation for being a tactician and a coaching scholar. He led New York to the latter stages of the CONCACAF Champions League and became a disciple of Ralf Rangnick at Leipzig.
But Flogel reckons there’s more to the manager than just a modern playbook.
The former Austria captain said: “He is very tactical but his man-management skills are also very apparent. There are some videos from inside the dressing room and he talks a lot to his players, individually and as a group.
“You can see he is really up for it and he gets his players on board as well.
“It’s not common to see an American coach in Europe but it’s never been mentioned in Austria. I think people looked at his work in Germany and the fact he speaks four languages and is really immersed in the culture here.
“The fact he is from America has never been an issue because it’s clear he knows the game. His team was playing fantastic football right from the start so no one cares.”
Flogel still keeps tabs on Scottish football, especially the Jambos, and he’s aware of the rebuilding mission required at Celtic Park.
Hel said: “Salzburg have the most money but they also develop players. You only have to look at Erling Haaland and his career progression.
“The buy players but improve them before selling them on for a lot.
“It’s a model a lot of clubs try to copy but it’s not easy to achieve. You need a manager, a sporting director and a board, all