USA soccer fans are SPLIT on the rumored hiring of former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch

American football fans have widely varying opinions on the federation’s supposed intention to hire Jesse Marsch as the new coach of the men’s team.

Marsch lasted less than a year at Leeds and also enjoyed a hasty exit from RB Leipzig, but had previously had success with New York Red Bulls in MLS and impressed with his work at Red Bull Salzburg.

Now USMNT fans are wondering whether or not he is the right choice to succeed Gregg Berhalter.

“I wouldn’t be excited if Jesse Marsch was named USMNT manager,” wrote MLS Buzz, a major American football Twitter account.

“But there is no doubt that he has achieved more at a higher level than Gregg Berhalter. It’s a step forward, but not the drastic step that many of us wanted.

“Jesse Marsch is not a bad recruit,” said another user. “We just had better options. Patrick Vieira was one of them.

“I just think Jesse Marsch took too many steps way too soon… how did he go from being RB Salzburg and a failed manager of Leipzig to being a manager of Leeds United and now the USMNT?”, A asked another fan. ‘That does not make any sense.’

Some were more enthralled by the possibility of Marsch coaching the national team.

“If Jesse Marsch has the right staff around him, we’ll cook. Don’t listen to hate,” one said.

“Jesse Marsch looks like a no brainer USMNT coaching hire and I can wait to see all the new and crazy ways people find to get mad about it,” another Twitter user said.

‘I’m excited for this. Now let’s win the World Cup at home! said another fan, referring to the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Debate over Marsch’s candidacy spurred by report from Chicago Fire website meninred.com who said he was “very close” to being named USMNT coach. Marsch played for the Fire between 1998 and 2005.

While the article fueled a conversation about Marsch’s abilities as a manager, it also raised questions about the timeline on which the USSF operates.

The article claimed that Marsch could start after June’s Gold Cup – rather than taking charge of that tournament and the CONCACAF Nations League before that.

The move would be curious for many American fans, including Alexi Lalas, as Marsch has been out of work since February following his dismissal from Leeds.

“If that’s true, I’m sure there are reasons, but [not having a coach start until after the Gold Cup] looks even dumber if it’s Jesse Marsch,” Lalas said. ‘

“At this point, I just want a decision from the #USMNT coach and a hot body, whatever it is, so we can move on. 1,119 days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup.’

The former USMNT defender isn’t the only one with this line of thinking.

Alexi Lalas can’t understand why a USMNT coach would start after June’s Gold Cup

‘I’m sorry, what am I missing here?’ another asked. ‘If there is a choice, why wait until after the Gold Cup? Seems to me that every day he doesn’t assess talent and shapes his system around the best players in the group for the system feels like a wasted day.

‘It’s really hilarious that when Marsch has been out of work for months, we’ve taken all this time to get a sporting director to do some ‘due diligence’ and ‘go through the process’ to get the best possible coach – to eventually hire Marsch anyway,” another Twitter user added.

Indeed, the USSF recently hired former Southampton director of football operations Matt Crocker as their new sporting director.

The Briton won’t start full-time in his role until August 2, but said he would begin the search for a new USMNT head coach immediately.

The team has been without a permanent manager since Berhalter’s contract expired on December 31, with Anthony Hudson taking over as interim manager.