Red Bulls manager Jesse Marsch was named MLS Coach of the Year on Tuesday — and it’s hard to imagine a more drama-filled year.
“I’m honored to be selected among my peers and everything else as the coach of the year but it is a team award,’’ Marsch said. “But I think it is more of acknowledgment of everything that we’ve been able to accomplish in this organization.”
Marsch, who became the first New York coach to win the award, started his debut season with the Red Bulls by replacing a club legend (Mike Petke) and facing angry supporters at a feisty town hall meeting. After winning the Supporters’ Shield, Marsch steered his team into the Eastern Conference finals in which they will play host to Columbus on Sunday in the second leg down 2-0 in aggregate score.
“When I came on board, it was obviously a crazy situation but right away, I realized there are amazing people in this organization, amazing people to work with,’’ said Marsch.
“It’s been a total pleasure for me from Day 1 to work with everyone: Marc de Grandpre’s team to our technical team on the side to then the players. I think we should credit the players for what they put into this, how much they’ve believed into what is being built here and how much they contributed. It truly is a group honor.”
The Red Bulls went 18-10-6 in Marsch’s debut campaign, for 60 points and MLS’s best record. They also had the league’s top offense with 62 goals scored and the East’s best defense with just 43 allowed.
“He’s had a great year. The team’s done really well. He’s been not just a great coach, but he’s been a good friend and he’s been a good colleague and he’s been a good leader,’’ said sporting director Ali Curtis, who took heat from the fan base for replacing Petke this past offseason.
Despite losing star power (Thierry Henry) and millions in payroll from last year’s team, Marsch brought high-pressure defense and high-energy offense. The result was a dominant season that saw the Red Bulls finish first or second in the league in goals, assists, shots, shots on goal, offsides and corners.
Throughout his playing career, Marsch had plenty of good coaches from whom to steal ideas. D.C. United’s Bruce Arena (1997) Chicago’s Bob Bradley (1998), Chicago’s Dave Sarachan (2003) and Chivas USA’s Preki (2007) all won MLS Coach of the Year while Marsch was playing for them.
Marsch gladly would trade his trophy for the three-goal win the Red Bulls need this Sunday to reverse their 2-0 loss at Columbus in last weekend’s road leg.
“It comes at a time,” Marsch said, “when we’ll find out how good a coach I am.”