On Tuesday, MLSsoccer.com published an article from league insider Tom Bogert that contained a series of as-yet-untold stories about current Leeds United Head Coach and former Fire great Jesse Marsch from his time spent in MLS.
Marsch appeared 200 times for the Fire from the Club's inaugural season in 1998 until his departure for Chivas USA in 2005. In that span, he helped the Club win the 1998 MLS Cup, the 1998, 2000, and 2003 U.S. Open Cups, and the 2003 Supporters Shield. He'd get his first coaching experience at CF Montréal, before a successful stint at the New York Red Bulls prior to his jump overseas.
Former Fire players Jim Curtin and Josh Wolff are quoted in the article, and deliver some gems from the early days of Marsch's tenure with the Fire:
“We got under each other’s skin,” Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin said. Curtin joined the Fire in 2001, where he was Marsch’s teammate until 2005, then again in 2008-09 with Chivas USA. “There were fistfights all the time, that was a common occurrence. Jesse had a way of competing, it wasn’t uncommon that punches were thrown. Let’s just say we’ll leave out some details, but, yeah, that wasn’t uncommon.”
Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff, a fellow original member of the Fire with Marsch and his first roommate, recalled those details, including a one-punch knockout by Ante Razov.
“Yeah, plenty of good stories,” Wolff said. Wolff played for Chicago from 1998-2002. “Jesse got knocked out by Ante in training in one punch; He got thrown out of a training because he took a cheap shot. There was plenty of animosity between players. Jesse didn’t back down, other players didn’t back down either.”
To read the article in full, visit MLSsoccer.com.
