Jesse Marsch talks up Leipzig in eerily similar fashion to Celtic

By David Walton

April 25, 2021

Jesse Marsch has talked up the prospect of managing RB Leipzig as a “great idea” only weeks after his Celtic comments.

Marsch is going to be a man in demand when he decides to leave Salzburg. He’s already managed to secure two Austrian Bundesliga titles and has made his mark with them in the Champions League. After working under Ralph Rangnick at Leipzig as his assistant for a year, Marsch comes across as cultured and studious.

And he had us Celtic fans full of excitement back in March when he commented about the club. He claimed back then that he was “interested” in the Celtic job. He also labelled links with the Parkhead club as “an honour” [BBC].

But it doesn’t look as though we’re the only club he has his eye on. In fact, in an eerily similar manner, he talked up the prospect of managing Leipzig should Julian Nagelsmann leave for another job.

Speaking to Sky Sport, Marsch said: “Of course I understand the club very well. If you ask me what would fit best, RB Leipzig is of course a top idea.

“But Julian Nagelsmann is doing a great job and there is currently no reason for Leipzig to look for a new coach. But if I can have the opportunity as a coach in Leipzig, then that’s a great idea for me.”

Jesse Marsch to Celtic doesn’t feel as likely as it once did; Leipzig looks like the natural option

Let’s face it, we all got excited when the American talked up the Hoops. I was certainly one of them. The chance to have someone of Marsch’s calibre, with the modern outlook he has on football, to come and coach at Celtic Park? It felt like exactly what we needed in order to truly move on from the backward Neil Lennon era.

However, with the Eddie Howe speculation recently, a move for Marsch has looked less likely. There have been no reports that Celtic have made contact with the Salzburg man. No reports that we’re a move he’s extremely keen to make.

In fact, quite the opposite. It’s been reported by Bild in recent weeks that Marsch is eyeing up the Leipzig role when Nagelsmann departs. The latter has been linked with the likes of Bayern Munich and Spurs as potential future destinations [talkSPORT].

Jesse Marsch has spoken about the Celtic job / (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The closer we get to the summer, the further apart Marsch and Celtic are drifting from each other. Both look set to take alternative paths, and given the relationship between Leipzig and Salzburg, it seems the natural step for the American to make.

And that’s even if Howe to Celtic doesn’t transpire. As attractive a sell as we are to up and coming managers, Marsch is probably operating at a level where he can overlook a step to Parkhead for something more glamorous.

So don’t be surprised if a move to Leipzig is confirmed this summer. You feel that’s the general plan here.

In other news, David Turnbull has been given a class appraisal from a former manager.