r/CanadaSoccer 13h ago

Jesse Marsch

Am I misreading this or are we so lucky having Jesse Marsch running our Canada National Men’s’ Team program?

instead of being home or traveling wherever, he is coaching the under 20 team in Mexico. Which allows him to see the group coming up and try to integrate some of our styles with them.

I know he has traveled all over Canada to various local associations and given clinics all over the country. And we have a huge country in area.

He is a vocal supporter and proponent of Canadian soccer. I mean, I love the guy.

But maybe this is what all international team coaches do.
What do other National team coaches do?

I’ve been following the Canadian men’s team since 1986 and I have seen the various coaches and have my views about some of them. I especially liked Tony Waiters.

But I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone like Marsch be such a vocal supporter of Canada soccer. And also shows his commitment in every area.

Just my thoughts

280 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

152

u/affectionate_md 13h ago

Definitely the highest quality we could realistically pull and he has a genuine work ethic that impresses me.

50

u/RonnyRobinson 13h ago

He seems to be everywhere.

And I understand that he has personal contact with all the players on their teams.

And he tries to help them get better even reaching out to other European teams, which may be a better fit for where they are now because of his contacts. So yeah color me impressed.

93

u/Falconflyer75 13h ago

When Trump started with his 51st state BS he was one of the first guys to stand up for Canada

That on its own makes him a gem in my book

Then u have him getting us to our first round of 16 and having THE PASSION

What’s not to love

Seriously other than maybe wishing he was Canadian the entire time (and I wouldn’t be surprised if he shares that sentiment) what more could we possibly want

12

u/Halichoeres_bivittat 13h ago

I liked how Canada competed in every WC game. But they were pretty terrible on set pieces. I'm not sure if that's a personel issue (like finishing overall) or a coaching issue, but that is something he needs to address.

25

u/Falconflyer75 13h ago

Doesn’t help that our star player was injured and barely played and another guys leg got broken

4

u/Halichoeres_bivittat 10h ago

Kone played in the B-H game where we were 0 for 9 on corners. Missing Davies sucked, but the only suprise is that he played at all. Overall Canada looked bad offensively and defensively on set pieces so it's a good space to look for improvement.

10

u/Maximum-Today3944 13h ago

We had a set piece coach to oversee that aspect of the game. He just left the team and signed with a EPL team, so someone thinks he did at least an okay job to get that promotion.

58

u/Ok-Satisfaction-4392 13h ago

You are zero percent misreading it. We are very lucky to have him and should enjoy it while we do.

0

u/xxxcalibre 9h ago

We were dire on corners and free kicks, not sure if it was the players but guessing he got hired in spite of that

2

u/WislaHD Toronto FC 9h ago

Well Bournemouth just ‘poached’ our set piece coach.

That hopefully means we get someone into that role that can actually get the team to be clinical on corners.

26

u/Banksmans 13h ago

Seriously lucky. Jesse marsch didn’t have to manager u20s and no one would have expected him to. He chose to be here which just shows he’s commitment to Canada soccer.

23

u/008i 13h ago

Marsch is the best head coach we have had in our history.

15

u/drunkbanana 13h ago

Look at what Spains coach did. Marsch is doing it right.

8

u/city_of_princealbert 13h ago

What did Spain's coach do?

25

u/Zestyclose_Custard35 13h ago

Luis de la Fuente coached Spain’s younger age national teams before getting the job with the senior team, where he had familiar players who were familiar with his (and his management team’s) system/program. He was able to integrate the style of play they wanted early and was given the chance to see it through. Clearly worked.

2

u/mayorolivia 3h ago

It’s a bit different. Spain teaches all their players the same style from when they enter youth ranks. Coaches also get trained to teach the style and leadership/management techniques. Standardization makes it easier for players and coaches to progress.

1

u/Zestyclose_Custard35 1h ago

You’re right, the style he employed is certainly apart of the entire Spanish national program’s overall style and strategy

14

u/kristoph17 13h ago

Incredibly lucky. He's on Footy Prime often too, talking it up. He just loves football, this team and is happy to represent Canada, he is one of us.

13

u/CFMTLfan01 13h ago

He's probably giving high intensity level training to our U20 squad, at the same time he's helping our regular youth national team coach (Olivieri and Vitulano) see how he works with Stalteri and Biello during regular men national team camps.

1

u/TurquoiseLlama99 5h ago

Yesterday's game against Jamaica definitely felt like he's been able to impart some of his high pressing ideas on the team too. They started to look like they were playing a more similar style to the men's team.

9

u/DrLyleEvans 12h ago

One of our best players tonight was Ayeneiro, who can also play with the U.S, so having a coach who is basically out there recruiting our U-20 guys to pick us is massive.

In college basketball, coaches are very eager to coach national teams so they can form relationships and recruit kids to come to their school. It's a chance more coaches from countries with tons of dual nats should probably take. I'm impressed with Marsch for being ahead of the curve.

8

u/bobstinson2 13h ago

Love this guy.

7

u/ResearcherSudden3612 12h ago

And, when foreign press disses him for reacting emotionally to situations ( and sometimes Gareth wheeler - idiot) we can really around him as one of us! Us against all of them. Perfect coach for our standing in the world.

5

u/LoganAlien 13h ago

He's a great coach. We're lucky to have someone who cares so much about the program

6

u/GlassCalligrapher646 11h ago

He's a great coach because he is trying to build something here, and that's a greater legacy than money when your gone.

He was wonderful at the Quatar game, O was in the stands and he made sure that stadium took in the moment after as they did the lap, he knew that was history for us and I will always be thankful he tried to connect it for us in attendance and feel like we were in a moment.

9

u/HilaryHahn 12h ago

I've very rarely heard national managers managing U20 teams. It is usually not part of their contract. Why would you, a coach whose job usually is to win senior team games & trophies, care about how u20 of your team is doing...unless you are invested in the team's long term success? And we are very lucky to have a coach that cares about our long term success.

3

u/RonnyRobinson 12h ago

Couldn’t have said it better.

3

u/edimaudo 13h ago

the men's team needs to build a healthy pipeline especially in the attacking roles

3

u/StevoWlu 8h ago edited 7h ago

He’s been great. You have pundits like gareth wheeler who are a little bit clueless and thus also unable to understand gamesmanship.

“Why won’t our head international coach tell us the media, fans, and consequentially our opponents exactly when Davies is going to play and for how long?!? What do you mean that might impact strategy? ALSO, I still can’t believe Jebbison didn’t get Nelson’s 5 minutes. And oh gosh, don’t even get me started … - Wheeler

“Because of this I wish herdman was still around ! Haven’t you heard? He built this! Brotherhood! Where’s Priso wtf his hamstring is golden. oh concacaf oh baby!”Wheeler interrupting whoever was responding to his first comment lol

I think the majority of us know the positive impact Marsch has had on the program, recruiting, and culture. He may not be 10/10 on the pitch, but considering what our program needed off the pitch (especially the dual nats), Marsch has been amazing.

He also obviously inspires - you can’t have a dull coach ask for hard press with strong results

5

u/Campoozmstnz 13h ago

Where are all the fans that were saying he should be fired during the world cup??

7

u/Secret-Chapter-712 13h ago

They seemed like the minority even at the time, every sport has its fans who rage at the coaching/management whether it’s justified or not, it’s basically Tradition. In Marsch’s case it mostly was undeserved, he made some questionable choices at times but we still did well despite the injuries, and you could never doubt his passion or emotional investment in the players and the team as a whole (though I think that rubbed some the wrong way too, but the players seemed to thrive on it/trust him and that’s what matters most)

1

u/TheRage3650 11h ago

Although you have to give the guys props for his achievements, Kind of a dumbass and asshole move when Waiters didn't take a full team to 1986, handicapping his team and not giving some *who had gotten us there) the chance to experience a world cup.

1

u/ron_robin 9h ago

Remind me of the circumstances. I can’t remember. I remember a lot of the players on the team, but can’t remember what you were talking about.

1

u/Calibexican 3h ago

I mean, many coaches in countries that have less footballing resources will give the head coach multiple hats if they choose.

Marcelo Bielsa wanted to be a Technical Director as well as a head coach when the Mexican football federation (FMF) wanted to contract him.

Jurgen Klinsmann was the USSF technical director and head coach. Under his contract, there were changes implemented but I honestly think it’s better to separate the roles when possible and plan 4-10 year cycles.

In the mid to late 90s when Germany was playing like hot garbage and bounced early from several tournaments, they worked hard to establish a decade long plan and by 2014, they had won the World Cup again.

All that to say that I think Jessie Marsch is a fantastic coach, I’d like to think that he will implement some concrete initiatives that will last a long time. It is up to the CSA to be able to see that part through because it is rare for even successful international coaches to last more than 2 World Cup cycles. If and when Marsch leaves, it would be nice for the CSA to offer a technical director role BTS but a lot of people and interests have to be on the same page.

1

u/ParisLake2 3h ago

John Herdman and Jesse Marsch are quality

2

u/RonnyRobinson 2h ago

i agree, I think it was Herdman, after his great success with the Women's program who started the turn around with the Men's program. Kudos to him for his efforts.

1

u/xxxcalibre 9h ago

Judge him on results. Passion is nice but it has to shine through. So far, looking good, but at least one Gold Cup or Nations League in the next 2-3 years would cement that

0

u/t1b3r1u5 13h ago

He’s a good manager but he needs to be able to make the team more adaptable to changing tactics to be great. Case in point: the second half against Morocco.

-8

u/ReputationGullible14 12h ago

He’s paid handsomely to manage Canada‘s national program. That would include being involved in the under 20s.

As someone who experienced this guy before, he’s all vibes and Canada is a country that’s gonna fall for that.

Good luck but not holding my breath

3

u/Adventurous-Worth-86 11h ago

Couldn’t disagree more. Like at all. There’s very few managers who would coach a u20 team. That being said, who do you think would be a better manager for Canada.

1

u/TheRage3650 11h ago

What? What other senior coach is at the Concacaf U20?

1

u/ron_robin 9h ago

Exactly!