Canadian national soccer team boss Jesse Marsch essentially laughed in the face of the United States to shut down any speculation about his interest in replacing Gregg Berhalter. It’s not going to happen.
The 50-year-old Wisconsin-native is going to stay far away from the USMNT until the system undergoes sweeping change.
Marsch, who received two caps for the U.S. national team as a player, led the New York Red Bulls from 2015-2018, Redd Bull Salzburg from 2019-2021, RB Leipzig in 2021 and Leeds United in 2022 and 2023. He was hired by Canada on May 13, 2024.
Berhalter failed to get the United States out of the group stage of the Copa America on home soil and was fired earlier this week. Meanwhile, Canada will finish no worse than fourth in the tournament.
With Berhalter out, there is some chatter about Marsch getting the nod as his successor. The latter was considered the top candidate for the USMNT job after the former’s contract expired in 2022 so it seems logical that he would again be in the mix two years later.
There is just one issue. Marsch is not interested. He doesn’t want to be considered as a candidate.
I’m not leaving this job, I have no interest in the U.S. job.
— Jesse Marsch
His full comments about the current state of United States soccer were rather blunt.
Jesse Marsch on any #USMNT coaching rumours. #CanMNT @TSN_Sports @TSNSoccer pic.twitter.com/KpLBFLjY7j
— Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) July 12, 2024
Although it is easy to say that Marsch is upset with how the last hiring process was handled, because he is, his scathing remarks about the program’s immediate future are not wrong. This is supposed to be the “golden era” of soccer in the United States and the national team has failed to perform on every level.
It’s not a stretch to say that this upcoming hire is the most important in this country’s sporting history. Jesse Marsch is not interested. He is going to stay put.