The Most Successful American In Europe?

On September 18, 2019 the Group Stage games for the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League started. It was also a historic day for American soccer as former New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch was managing for RB Salzburg. Marsch became the first American manager to manage in a UEFA Champions League game as his side were facing Genk. This is a big deal, this means that a decently sized European club has trusted an American manager enough to lead them into the UCL. Yes… he stayed within the Red Bull group, BUT, it doesn’t matter! He has impressed enough to work his way up and manage for arguably the 2nd largest team in the Red Bull group. Marsch continued to make history on the 18th as RB Salzburg defeated Genk, 6-2. The game was easily won and in large part a huge contribution came from 19 year old striker Erling Braut-Haland who scored a hat trick. Marsch has Salzburg firing on all cylinders as he now has nine wins in his nine games as manager.

 Though many people focus on the Pulisic’s going from Dortmund to Chelsea, Adams’s going from New York Red Bulls to RB Leipzig, and the Steffen’s going from Columbus to Man City to Dusseldorf… but people are overlooking Marsch’s tear through the Red Bull group. The former MLS Coach of the Year is now working his way through Europe. I think that he may be on the most positive trajectory of all Americans in Europe right now.