Jesse Marsch Hasn’t Coached at Gold Cup Yet — He's Still the Talk of the Tournament

Is the most interesting manager at the Gold Cup the one who hasn’t even appeared yet?

Jesse Marsch, the American in charge of Canada’s men’s national team, is currently serving a two-game suspension. He missed out Tuesday’s opener against Honduras in Vancouver (watching the 6-0 win from afar in a suite at BC Place) and will also sit out Saturday’s Group B game vs Curaçao in Houston. 

On Wednesday, Concacaf said it would be further investigating Marsch for rules violations and using offensive language during Tuesday’s game — even though he wasn't even coaching. 

It only adds another layer of intrigue for a manager that FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas described as "big, bold and arrogant" this week on his "State of the Union" podcast? 

So, who is Jesse Marsch and why has he become one of the most hot-topic figures at the Gold Cup? Lets’s dive in:

Why Is Marsch Suspended?

Marsch’s suspension dates back to March. He received a red card during the Concacaf Nations League third-place match against the U.S. for berating the referee and then refusing to leave the pitch. His original one‑game ban was increased to two after Concacaf’s disciplinary committee ruled his conduct was "unacceptable."

But with Wednesday’s announcement of a fresh investigation into Marsch, it could lead to further disciplinary action.  As of now, Marsch will return for Canada’s group stage finale against El Salvador on June 24 in Houston. 

And after the Canadians’ statement win over Honduras, this team is very much living up to expectations of being a tournament favorite and winning the title for the first time since 2000.

Jesse Marsch argues during the Nations League third-place match between United States and Canada in March. (Photo by Eliecer Aizprua