Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch made the ‘smart move’ calling off a return to the Premier League with Leicester City according to a one-time USA international.
In the eyes of Herculez Gomes, another failure in another high-profile job may have been ‘strike three’ as far as Marsch’s European prospects are concerned.
Strike three, for those of you not particularly au fait with baseball terminology, means you’re ‘out’. Done. Finito.
After lasting just five months at Bundesliga giants RB Leizpig, Marsch’s Leeds career ended with a whimper rather than a roar; sacked in February following four wins in 20 games.
Relegation with Leicester City would have made it three disappointing managerial tenures in succession this side of the Atlantic. And Gomez feels that Marsch may not have been afforded a fourth.
Leicester City hire Dean Smith as new manager
“The whole Premier League table, from Chelsea on, everybody is in a relegation battle. You have to be very particular about what job you take,” former Colorado Rapids striker Gomez tells ESPN.
“His jobs (at Leipzig and Leeds) were seen as failures. He learned very heavily on the American players. The Brenden Aaronsons, the Tyler Adams, the Weston McKennies. He tried to put his own stamp on things…
“Now, the next job could be strike three in the eyes of many. So you have to be very particular in the risk you take.”
According to The Athletic, Marsch held talks with Jon Rudkin – Leicester City’s director of football – shortly after the sacking of Brendan Rodgers. The Foxes’ first-choice was Graham Potter, however, rather than the Wisconsin-born 49-year-old.
And after negotiations with both Potter and Marsch broke down, Leicester handed the reigns to former Aston Villa, Brentford and Norwich City boss Dean Smith until the end of the current campaign.
“(Relegation with Leicester) would be another stain on your resume,” Gomez adds. “And if you can’t have the opportunity to bring this team back, what are you doing there?
“Why put yourself in a position where you cannot give yourself the best possible opportunity to be at a long-term contract. You know that you’re probably going to be relegated.
“So it’s a smart move by Jesse. I think he wants to make sure the next opportunity is the right opportunity.”
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