10 things to know about Jesse Marsch
His journey from being an MLS record holder to head coach | Princeton graduate | World traveller
10 things to know about new RBL head coach Jesse Marsch
With the team having already completed various performance tests and following his first pre-season press conference today, the 2021/22 season has officially begun for head coach Jesse Marsch.
We've put together 10 interesting facts about our new head coach.
1. Seven MLS titles as a professional footballer
Jesse Marsch's playing career spanned 14 years in North America's Major League Soccer (MLS). During this time, the midfielder won the MLS Cup on three occasions and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup four times.
Clubs:
1996–1997 D.C. United: 15 games | 4 goals
1998–2005 Chicago Fire: 200 games | 19 goals
2006–2009 CD Chivas USA: 106 games | 8 goals
2. Records:
Up until 2005, no player had appeared in more MLS games than Jesse. The now 47-year-old is one of only three players to have featured in each of the first 14 MLS seasons.
3. From pro footballer to head coach:
Following his retirement, Marsch took a position as assistant coach with the US men's national team in 2010. A year and a half later, he began his first head coaching job at the Montreal Impact. In 2014/15, he took charge of the New York Red Bulls, where he spent the next three and a half years. Marsch then took a position as assistant coach at RB Leipzig for a year before taking on the head coach job at FC Red Bull Salzburg, where he spent two years. Now, we can welcome him back to Leipzig!
4. Has a great sense of humour!
Jesse is always quick with a laugh. He is a fan of American football and, as a Wisconsin native, supports the Green Bay Packers.
Here he is getting tackled by Tyler Adams ahead of the 2019 Super Bowl.
5. Graduated from an Ivy League college:
Jesse's talents as a footballer allowed him to play for Princeton University, one of the most prestigious colleges in the USA. Our coach graduated with a degree in history.
6. Role model and mentor, Bob Bradley:
American coach Bob Bradley is a long-time friend and mentor to Jesse. Bradley coached Marsch at Princeton, before going on to take on an assistant coaching job at Chicago Fire - Jesse's first professional club. Following the 2005 season, Jesse joined CD Chivas USA where Bradley was the head coach.
Following the end of his playing career, Jesse joined Bradley's coaching staff as an assistant with the US men's national team in February 2010.
Marsch was not only able to learn a lot about tactics from Bradley, but also about the importance of having the right mentality.
7. Honours:
Jesse was honoured as the MLS Coach of the Year in 2015. Back then, he took over as head coach of the New York Red Bulls from Mike Petke. The team finished the 2015 season with 60 points in the Eastern Conference, and won the MLS Supporters' Shield as the team with the best regular season record.
8. Language:
Jesse Marsch is the first RB Leipzig head coach whose mother tongue is not German.
9. Jesse on ice:
As a kid, Jesse played ice hockey and would never turn down a game of pickup basketball. However, football was always his favourite sport.
10. World traveller:
After his time with the Montreal Impact came to an end in 2012, Jesse and his family packed their bags and set off on a six-month trip around world. In total, they visited 32 countries, including South-East Asia, India and Nepal.
The trip would go on to have a massive impact on Jesse's life. During this time, he learned that there are things in life that are more important than football and to take the time to destress. His main takeaway from the trip was that treating people with respect and helping them be the best they can be should always be your goal.