U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has named longtime MLS midfielder Jesse Marsch to be an assistant coach on the staff of the U.S. Men’s National Team. A player in MLS since the league’s inception in 1996, Marsch has announced his retirement from Chivas USA and will help lead the U.S. through the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Marsch, who holds a USSF ‘A’ license, will join the U.S. team for training camp beginning Feb. 10 at The Home Depot Center, ahead of the game against El Salvador on Feb. 24 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Jesse for many years, and I believe the knowledge and experience he brings will be a great benefit to both the players and the coaching staff,” said Bradley.
Marsch made two appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team, most recently against China in June of 2007. His first came Nov. 11, 2001, in a World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain.
“I’m excited about this opportunity with U.S. Soccer,” said Marsch. “I am looking forward to working hard to help this team be successful in the future.”
Marsch, who wore the captain’s armband for Chivas USA for much of the 2008 and 2009 seasons, made 358 appearances in his 14-year MLS career. One of the most decorated players in league history, he has collected three MLS Cup titles and four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup medals.
The former midfielder has worked with Bradley since 1992, when Marsch was a freshman at Princeton under Bradley the Tigers head coach. In the inaugural season MLS season in 1996, Bradley served as an assistant coach for D.C. United and Marsch a midfielder during their run to the MLS Cup title, the start of three successive league titles for both men. In 1998, Bradley took the reigns of the expansion Chicago Fire and Marsch helped the club complete its historic double, winning both the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup. When Bradley took over as head coach of Chivas USA prior to the 2006 season, Marsch moved to the club and went on to make 106 appearances in four seasons.
Following the El Salvador match, the United States will play third-ranked Netherlands on March 3 in Amsterdam, allowing the U.S. to face one of the top teams in the world prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Kickoff at the Amsterdam ArenA is set for 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Galavision. Fans can also follow along on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and at twitter.com/ussoccer.
The U.S. Men’s National Team has been drawn into Group C with England, Slovenia and Algeria for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. will open its sixth consecutive World Cup finals tournament against England on June 12 in Rustenburg, and will follow that game with matches against Slovenia on June 18 in Johannesburg and Algeria on June 23 in Tshwane/Pretoria. (www.ussoccer.com)
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