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Jesse Marsch has never been one to sugarcoat things, and the Canada head coach made no exception when weighing in on the stunning managerial void now facing the U.S. men's national team.
The USMNT's Mauricio Pochettino was unveiled as Manchester United's new manager on Friday, stepping in for Michael Carrick at the top of the Premier League club just hours after Carrick's dismissal.
Pochettino's abrupt departure was the result of a fast-moving plan that surfaced less than a week ago, with the 54-year-old Argentine tactician walking away from a four-year contract extension he had only just inked with U.S. Soccer back in August — a move that will cost United $10 million in compensation.
Marsch, who similarly signed a four-year contract extension with Canada not long ago, made no effort to hide his sharp criticism of Pochettino's exit, which the emotional Argentine described as "the most difficult decision of his career."
"When I put pen to paper to stay here [with Canada], it was with the absolute intention that, regardless of what came along or who came calling, I wasn't going anywhere," Marsch said Friday. "I'm staying put. I love this job. I love this team. I love this federation and the game in this country."
Hiring Marsch Is Very Much Off the Table
Marsch had previously been open about his ambitions to manage the USMNT. He even believed he had landed the role back in 2022, going so far as to turn down an approach from Leicester City — only for U.S. Soccer to reverse its decision and bring Gregg Berhalter back into the fold.
The 53-year-old Wisconsin native eventually took the reins of the Canadian men's national team in the spring of 2024, just a few months before the USMNT appointed Pochettino.
If U.S. Soccer had ever entertained the idea of luring Marsch away as Pochettino's permanent successor, that notion has now been firmly shelved.
• Marsch Almost Got the USMNT Job; Would He Have Been Better Than Pochettino?
Marsch remains fully invested in his project with Canada, particularly following the remarkable run he guided the Canucks through at the home World Cup.
Canada reached unprecedented heights this summer, racking up a string of historic milestones. They claimed their first-ever World Cup point with a 1–1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their group stage debut, then recorded their first-ever World Cup victory with a commanding 6–0 win over Qatar, before clinching their first-ever knockout stage qualification by finishing second in Group B.
The country also celebrated its first-ever knockout stage triumph, edging out South Africa 1–0 in stoppage time to advance to the round of 16. Marsch has built a strong platform to continue developing over the next four years.
U.S. Soccer is said to be zeroing in on Pep Guardiola as its "primary target" to replace Pochettino; however, Nashville SC head coach B.J. Callaghan and U-23 Olympics manager Steve Cherundolo have also been mentioned as potential candidates.