Marsch favourite shares reason why he has rejected Leeds deal, despite Whites target urging Orta

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Jesse Marsch wanted Chris Armas at Leeds United but the former Manchester United coach has instead decided to return home to the United States.

The Whites made the bold decision to sack Marcelo Bielsa and appoint Marsch as his replacement back in February.

Marsch immediately added Cameron Toshack to his coaching staff after making that move, whilst Franz Schiemer joined Leeds after working with Marsch at Red Bull Salzburg.

There has been another appointment this summer with Rene Maric – another former Salzburg man – joining Marsch despite links to Armas.

Jesse Marsch wanted Chris Armas

The Athletic reported in June that American coach Armas was heading to join Leeds United after leaving Manchester United this summer.

Armas worked as a coach alongside Ralf Rangnick at United and looked set for a stay in England despite his Old Trafford exit.

Armas even served as an assistant to Marsch at New York Red Bulls once upon a time, so a reunion made plenty of sense.

Yet a move for Armas went quiet and Leeds instead added Maric to their coaching staff, so what happened with a deal for Armas?

The 49-year-old has now spoken on The Crack Podcast, a show that features former United States internationals Oguchi Onyewu and DaMarcus Beasley.

Armas intriguingly claims that it was Juan Mata pushing Victor Orta to appoint Armas having worked together at Manchester United.

Reports in July suggested that Leeds were in talks over a deal to sign Mata on a free transfer, and these Armas comments hint that Mata has at least spoken to Orta recently.

Armas claims he did have the chance to join Marsch at Leeds but instead decided to return to the United States.

Armas wants to be a head coach in Major League Soccer again and decided to pass up that Leeds offer for his family and his own personal dream.

“Juan Mata’s telling the sporting director of Leeds, ‘Chris is an amazing coach, and a good person, hire him immediately’. They (Leeds) are telling me this. That’s the respect I know you earn,” said Armas.

“I had a chance to join Jesse Marsch and Leeds and I decided to come home. I made a decision with my family that this was the best thing for us right now. I could have stayed over there. I think the next step for me is to be in MLS to be a head coach again,” he added.