Monaco’s departing sporting director Paul Mitchell has played down a move for Jesse Marsch as Celtic eye the former Leeds United manager as a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou.
A lot can change in just two years.
Just ask Celtic fans. Back in 2021, this was a club on the canvas on the back of a humiliating season under Neil Lennon; a run of nine successive Scottish Premiership titles coming to an end in stunning style as Old Firm rivals Rangers ran away with the league.
At the time, meanwhile, Jesse Marsch was a coach with the world at his feet. When Celtic expressed an interest – Marsch describing the links as ‘an honour’ – he had just guided Red Bull Salzburg to successive domestic doubles, while making quite the splash on the Champions League stage.
Flash forward to 2023, however, and Celtic – and Marsch for that matter – are in a very different position.
Will Jesse Marsch be Celtic’s new manager?
Postecoglou leaves for Tottenham after guiding the Hoops to a fifth treble in eight years. Marsch’s reputation, meanwhile, has been left black and blue after highly disappointing spells at RB Leipzig and Leeds United; one-time Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan warning Celtic they would be ‘mad’ to hire the 49-year-old after just 19 wins in his last 58 games in management.
According to Sky Sports, Marsch – a long-time Celtic target – remains in the frame to take over from Postecoglou, even if there are concerns behind the scenes about his potential appointment.
Ligue 1 giants Monaco have also been linked. Marsch, it seems, has quite the agent.
The 2004 Champions League finalists are, however, playing down reports linking a graduate of the Red Bull finishing school with a move to the Principality
“I’ve seen and read the articles,” Mitchell, who will be replaced at Monaco by another Red Bull hire in Thiago Scuro, tells Get France Football News.
“I think that it’s clever to link my history and Thiago’s history, and link us to Red Bull coaches only. It won’t be like that.
“We’ll always look long and far across every market, including this one, try to make the best selection. It will definitely be the best man for the job, not just a ‘relationship hire’.”
Marsch is reportedly still living in Harrogate as he awaits another opportunity on UK soil.
He held talks with Southampton and Leicester City after leaving Leeds in February but potential moves to either club fell through.
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