World Cup | 2010 | Fathers, sons, and Jesse Marsch

Across fourteen years as a player, Jesse Marsch played only twice for the USMNT, never getting to experience a World Cup. As a coach, he reached the Copa Mundial within six months.

It’s The Jesse Marsch Story rolled into one major tournament. His lengthy playing career in MLS inspired a calling in coaching that propelled Marsch beyond the confines of the domestic league. The national team prepared for the tournament at Princeton, where Jesse had first trained under Bob Bradley. Now he was back, working alongside USMNT head coach Bradley as his right-hand guy. A helicopter pilot from Black Hawk Down gave the players a motivational speech.

The US manager wanted an assistant who could be a go-between for the playing squad and coaching staff. “As much as people will talk about my winning a lot,” Marsch said when announcing his retirement as a player to take the job, “I think the thing that I regret the most is not winning more because I feel like I was on a lot of good teams. Maybe if we had been a little better in one game or another maybe the numbers are even higher in terms of championships.”

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