Canada job is make or break for Jesse Marsch - fail and his top-level managerial dreams will be over

Back in 2021, Marsch seemed destined to achieve things no American coach had ever done before. No U.S.-born manager, save for his mentor Bob Bradley, had coached at the levels Marsch was heading for. However, Marsch's time at those levels didn't last long enough.

First came a disappointing spell at Leipzig, one which came on the heels of success at Red Bull Salzburg. At Leipzig's sister club, Marsch managed a young Erling Haaland to success, winning back-to-back domestic doubles to solidify Salzburg's place as kings of Austria.

Marsch never came close to reaching the same heights in Germany, however. He lasted just 17 games, amassing a record of seven wins, four draws and six losses before departing the club in December 2021.

Soon after, though, came Leeds, a move that has become known as a well-known disaster among American soccer fans. After helping the club survive relegation in his first half-season as Marcelo Bielsa's successor, Marsch signed USMNT midfielders Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Weston McKennie in a bid to boost his squad.

It turned into a nightmare, though, for all four, and Marsch was fired on February 6, 2023, less than one year after taking the job at Elland Road. The club, ultimately, was relegated.

In the year and change since Marsch's Leeds dismissal, he's certainly been linked to his fair share of jobs, particularly in the weeks after his firing. Immediately after leaving Elland Road, Marsch was approached to take the Southampton job, which he declined, indicating that it was too soon to return to a relegation race. He was then offered the Leicester City job, but backed out of the running as well, correctly citing the club's eventual relegation as a reason to stay away.

Birmingham City came calling early in 2024, according to reports, but Marsch ultimately didn't succeed Wayne Rooney as manager of the Championship club. And then there was South Korea, who looked close to appointing Marsch to follow former USMNT boss Jurgen Klinsmann.

It seemed clear that Marsch was waiting for the right job and the right fit. And, in his own words, he was hoping that would come with another crack at the Premier League.

"I love the Premier League," he told Sky Sports in February, "and I love the power of what the league means globally, but honestly the true answer is I want to find like-minded people, who are committed to developing people, relationships and building something. I’ve been kind of hoping we can find some kind of connection back in the Premier League, but if that doesn’t come, I have to find what else is out there and what comes next for me."

At one point, Marsch seemed like he was destined for a potential dream job with the USMNT. Leading up to the 2026 World Cup, that role was particularly enticing; what could be more special than leading your national team, the one you played for in your day, into a World Cup on home soil?

Following Berhalter's initial departure in the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup, Marsch was seen as the prime candidate to replace him. Matt Crocker, brought in to be U.S, Soccer's sporting director, had interviewed Marsch at Southampton, establishing a connection between the two.

Ultimately, though, after a months-long process, U.S. Soccer turned back to Berhalter, who was given back the keys on the road to 2026. So what would that mean for Marsch?

Well, it could mean that the dream of 2026 was over, but it could also mean that it was delayed. With the Copa America coming, the U.S. will need to show they are on the right path, and anything less than a good run could put Berhalter on the hot seat. Marsch could have waited until after this summer and then taken stock of what jobs were available, whether they be at home or in Europe.

Instead, Marsch has jumped back in with Canada, who took a big swing to bring in the American boss.

Marsch was one of several finalists for the Canada job, according to reports. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho, Frank Lampard, Paul Clement had all been linked with the role at one point or another. Marsch is the chosen one, though, and Canada went all out to get him.

Marsch isn't just Canada's head coach, though; he's formally been appointed as "the MLS Canada Men's National Team Head Coach". That's because the country's three MLS clubs - CF Montreal, Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps - offered the federation big money to help push the deal over the line. It's ironic, of course, given the fact that Montreal fired Marsch just over a decade ago, and now they're helping to pay his salary.

Overall, Marsch was made to feel wanted, which helped push him towards the job. “Honestly, it was a relatively easy decision that, once we could see that the fit was really good, then it was just a matter of, ‘OK, how do we make this happen?’," Marsch said. "And I give a lot of credit to [Canada Soccer general secretary] Kevin Blue. He was one of the best recruiters I’ve ever known in my life. I knew they wanted me, I knew that they felt it was right. And that feeling, that connection we had, I think really motivated me to want to do this.”

He added: “I know Canada a bit. I coached there, I lived there and I understand the country, the multiculturalism, the passion for the game and the knowledge that I have and the things I know about the people and their desire and passion for the game, helped me understand what this responsibility is. It helped me understand how to help lead this country into the [2026 World Cup]. And certainly, I think it will help me also coach this team, just knowing a bit of the background of the football history and the people that have been involved. I think that, in general, my experience in Montreal will serve me really well in this role.”

Golden generation or the start of something special? That's what Canada is trying to figure out right now. The country experienced unprecedented success during the 2022 World Cup cycle, as the team finished atop CONCACAF qualifying ahead of the U.S. and Mexico. As a result, they made it to the country's first World Cup in nearly 40 years.

The year-and-a-half since, though, has been turbulent, with the federation's financial troubles impacting just about everything with the men's and women's national team programs.

The squad Marsch inherits from John Herdman is, however, a strong one. It's led by Alphonso Davies, the Bayern Munich star who is probably CONCACAF's best player. At just 23, there sky remains the limit for the winger-turned-fullback.

He's not alone, though. Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Tajon Buchanan are all playing at a high level in Europe, while youngsters like Ismael Kone are balanced out by veterans such as Samuel Piette, Stephen Eustaquio, Alistair Johnson and Kamal Miller. The rise of MLS has improved the pipeline, particularly for young Canadian players.

Overall, this is a team that looks like it can play Marsch's all-action style. Canada are young and hungry, but they also know that they can compete at a high level, as evidenced by last cycle. The key now is to build upon the successes of the 2022 run, and it's on Marsch to do just that.

“Winning CONCACAF and World Cup qualifying was a massive achievement and I think it has changed the dialogue, certainly for this group of players," Marsch said. "Certainly for the expectations they have of themselves. Along with that comes certain pressures and the awareness that we have to meet even bigger goals. We shouldn’t be afraid of that. I think we should be ready to take this responsibility on fully, to understand that we need to emerge in the group with the U.S. and Mexico as the three powers of CONCACAF, and I think that case can already be made."

Marsch won't have too long to get acclimated. The Copa America is just a few weeks away, after all. He will have just two friendlies prior to this summer's tournament, and they won't be easy, with European powers Netherlands and France their opponents.

Canada's group is a tough one, too, having been drawn alongside defending champions Argentina as well as Peru and Chile. Escaping that would be a resounding success, a sign that Marsch and Canada are on the right path together. Canada won't be favorites to get out of that group, but they certainly have a chance.

Make no mistake, though; this is all about 2026. Copa America is a good dress rehearsal, but Canada's federation really hired Marsch with one eye on two years' time. That home soil World Cup will be a defining moment in the country's soccer history, so getting things right two summers from now is a must.

After that, who knows what happens with Marsch? Success with Canada will open all sorts of doors for him, as the world will be watching on that summer. Failure, though, will be costly. If Marsch doesn't get it right with Canada, that will be three let-downs in a row, which will be tough to come back from.

Marsch's time with Canada will ultimately be a defining period in his coaching career. If he wants another crack at the highest of levels, it has to begin now. Marsch waited for the job, the right fit, and it's now up to him to show what he's learned in the year-and-a-half since it all went wrong.