Jesse Marsch must fight US stereotypes as well as relegation at Leeds United

The jokes about Bob Bradley lasted longer than he did as Swansea City manager. Sky Sports’ Soccer AM ran a sketch for years after the American had departed the Liberty Stadium mocking how he talked about football. Brad Bobley, as the character was dubbed, spoke in a Stateside twang about “scoop-de-loop volleys” and “megnuts” and “midfield stripes”. Bradley’s mistake was once calling a penalty kick a “PK” in a press conference.

The jokes made at Bradley’s expense were all good fun, but his chastening experience in Wales highlighted the outdated prejudices still held against American coaches in British football. This is the environment Jesse Marsch has entered as the new manager of Leeds United.

Marsch, who worked as an assistant to Bradley for the US national team, arrives at Elland Road having proved himself at a high level on the continent. He was sacked by RB Leipzig only three months ago, but the 48-year-old had built an impressive body of work at Red Bull Salzburg where he won back-to-back league and cup doubles using an energetic, dynamic style of play.

Marsch has the makings of a good successor to Marcelo Bielsa. The American has inherited a Leeds squad that should be able to quickly absorb his ideas. Like Bielsa, Marsch favours a ball-orientated, aggressive style that should have fans on the edge of their seats. His teams are renowned for their fluidity and vertical movement. Bielsa-ball will still live on in some form.

The biggest change could be the one from a man-marking system to a zonal one but Leeds need a different approach on defence, having conceded more goals (60) than any other side in the Premier League this season. It could be a good fit.

And yet the same old tropes Bradley faced more than five years