With the Austrian double in hand after his first season in charge of Red Bull Salzburg, could a US men’s national team assignment be in Jesse Marsch’s future?
The American head coach isn’t looking to depart the European head coaching ranks, but the idea is a tantalizing one.
“It’s a little hard to say right now,” Marsch told Bleacher Report. “I’m enjoying my time in Europe – it took a lot of work to get here – and now that I’m here and enjoying some success, I don’t know. It’s a hard one. I try not to look too much into the future and I try just to enjoy the moment, but I would be honored and I'm very hopeful to someday coach the national team.”
Marsch moved to Europe in 2018 to become an assistant coach at RB Leipzig, and then this past season won the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup titles with Salzburg. They also impressed in the UEFA Champions League, but couldn’t advance past Group E and the likes of Liverpool and Napoli.
Before those stops, Marsch coached the Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls in MLS, winning a Supporters' Shield with the latter. He also earned two USMNT caps during his playing days and was an assistant coach under Bob Bradley at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
As for when the post could become Marsch’s, that’s hard to predict. Gregg Berhalter assumed the mantle in December 2018, though the chance to lead the team on home soil at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada would doubtless appeal to any coach.
“Coaching a national team for anyone is a big honor, but coaching the US national team would be incredible,” Marsch said. “I was an assistant there in 2010. Coaching at the World Cup at home would be an incredible experience."
