Men's Soccer: Marsch makes move to sidelines

Ironman is a perfect nickname for Jesse Marsch ’96. Like baseball’s Cal Ripken Jr., Marsch excelled in his ability to endure on the field. Marsch’s unbelievable longevity in the sport of soccer will not go unnoticed.

Marsch is one of only three athletes to participate in each of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) first 14 seasons. He is also the first MLS player to rack up three MLS Cup Championships. On Feb. 5, 2010, after appearing in 348 total MLS games, including 37 playoff appearances, Marsch hung up his cleats for retirement.

But he is not traveling far from the soccer world. Marsch will serve as an assistant coach on the U.S. men’s national team, which is gearing up to play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa this upcoming summer.

The US men’s head coach is none other than Bob Bradley ’80, Marsch’s coach and mentor during his playing days at Princeton. After establishing a relationship at the collegiate level, Marsch and Bradley’s careers would forever be intertwined.

When Marsch graduated from Princeton, Bradley, then an assistant coach with DC United, selected Marsch in the third round of the 1996 MLS College Draft. Then, when Bradley became the head coach for the newly formed Chicago Fire, Marsch followed him. And, when Bradley left for Chivas USA, Marsch packed up and left for California to play under his longtime coach once again.

Bradley has nothing but the highest praise for Marsch, who played midfield for most of his career.

“I think along the way, [Marsch] became a very good professional player who understood winning and what the team was all about,” Bradley said. “He was able to become an important part of every team he was involved with.”

From the beginning of his collegiate career, Marsch set himself apart as a player to be reckoned with. He was especially effective during the 1995 season. Marsch racked up 16 goals during the Tigers’ 1995 campaign, which ties him for second all-time in goals per season. He is also fourth on the list of career scoring, with 75 points. During the 1995 season, Marsch also earned All-American honors after serving as the Ivy League’s leading scorer.

As his coach for Marsch’s entire collegiate career, Bradley noticed that Marsch was consistently improving on the field.

“Jesse was a very good player when he first came to Princeton,” Bradley said. “Like a lot of good players when they come to college, they have to learn that being a good player is more than just doing the things you did in high school. He was a skillful player, but to see the way he developed over his career … that was what he was all about.”

Bradley also said Marsch ratcheted up his game when he moved from the collegiate to the professional level.

“I remember when Jesse was a senior [at Princeton], he felt that he had gotten to the point where he … understood what it was all about,” Bradley said. “When he stepped up to the pros, he did the same thing all over again. He was maturing and starting to figure things out a little faster.”

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In his first professional stint with DC United, which lasted two years, Marsch scored four goals in 15 appearances. But Marsch really came into his own during his tenure with the Chicago Fire. From 1998 to 2005, Marsch helped lead the Fire to four major titles: the 1998 MLS Cup and three U.S. Open Cups.

During Chicago’s 1998 title run, Marsch lived up to his “Ironman” status. He was on the field for the entirety of five playoff games, racking up 450 minutes of playing time. In his years with the Fire, Marsch played a total of 16,300 minutes in 182 starts.

Marsch’s achievements have been noticed by many around the soccer world, including Jim Barlow ’91, the current head coach of the Princeton men’s soccer team.

“I have been able to see him play many times as a professional,” Barlow said. “Throughout his career, he’s been so consistent and reliable. You have to be to last so long in MLS.”

Barlow also said he recognizes that Marsch has immense natural talent.

“He makes good decisions, smart decisions,” Barlow added. “As a midfielder, he kept his team connected with his sharp passing and vision. On top of all that, he’s a winner. He competes like crazy in every game.”

With Chivas USA, Marsch ended his professional career with a bang. As the vice-captain for the Red and White, Marsch earned a few accolades on and off the field. In the 2009 season, Marsch was Chivas USA’s U.S. Soccer Humanitarian of the Year.

Now residing in Manhattan Beach, Calif., Marsch is spending time with his wife and three children before beginning his new journey with the U.S. men’s team.

Bradley said he is confident that his former star player will transition well to the coaching sphere. The “Ironman” of the MLS has always adapted well to new situations, he explained.

“One of the most important aspects of Jesse as a player was his ability to adjust in all different situations,” Bradley said. “He took pride is doing [everything] on the field. That is what he was all about.”