Jesse Marsch Officially MLS Coach of the Year

Photo: Icon Sportswire/AP

Jesse Marsch’s being named MLS coach of the year will not sooth the wounds from the New York Red Bulls 2-0 loss in Columbus on Sunday, but nonetheless, it is a deserved win for the first year head coach.

In what can only be described as a landslide victory between the three candidates, Marsch claimed over 50% of the votes from club management and just under 65% of the vote from the media. There was almost no doubt in anyone’s mind who would ultimately win this award when the finalists were announced.

All Marsch did this season was take over a Red Bulls team in complete transition and lead them to their best statistical regular season in franchise history, culminating in a Supporters Shield. He took over a team losing one of the greatest forwards in the history of soccer in Thierry Henry and instead of looking for a big name to fill the gap he found the right players (not necessarily the most expensive) to replace Henry.

This is a wonderful and well-deserved honor for Marsch. However, none of this will mean much to Marsch if his team is unable to turn around their aggregate deficit next Sunday — but if this season has told us anything, it is that Marsch and his team are certainly capable of getting it done.