The narrative of Leicester City's harrowing tumble from the Premier League is correctly painted with the broad brushes of board incompetence, managerial indecision and a squad's collective malaise. Yet, a revelation from Jesse Marsch, courtesy of GiveMeSport, suggests the King Power hierarchy was a mere signature away from an alternate reality.
While the Blue Army might recoil at the mention of the polarising American, a clinical glance at the data suggests that Marsch may have been the superior, if not more obvious selection, the Foxes so desperately required. As the Foxes faithful watched their side plummet under the well-meaning but ultimately insufficient stewardship of Dean Smith, Steve Cooper and Ruud van Nistelrooy, Marsch was traversing a different trajectory.
The 52-year-old's Leeds United tenure did end in the cold air. His subsequent exploits with the Canadian national team reveal a coach of high-octane methodology and tactical resolve. Consulting WhoScored and Transfermarkt reveals a stark dichotomy: while Leicester's defensive metrics hemorrhaged and spirits dampened, Marsch was refining a solidifying system that later propelled Canada to a historic Copa América semi-final.
The American mirage: Reimagining Leicester City's descent with Jesse Marsch
For fans to wonder if the National coach's brand of 'Red Bull' intensity would have injected the requisite adrenaline into a lethargic Leicester spine, is natural. He is, undeniably, a figure of divisive charisma.
Yet, in the grim theater of an EFL Championship relegation dogfight, his unwavering belief and good old U.S. of A-style positivity might have outshone the paralysis often gripping the East Midlands team. Whilst dwelling in a timeline of 'what ifs', statistical evidence suggests Marsch's signing an LCFC contract might have prevented the very slide that saw the Foxes lose their top-flight luster.
"I got a call from US Soccer when I was literally being fingerprinted [for a visa] at Leicester," said Marsch. "I was ready to take that job, so it changed the trajectory of my life. I think things happen for a reason, and I'm happy with where I am right now.A rather self-important Jesse Marsch
"There was a match that day [against Bournemouth] and we were going to go to the [King Power] stadium together. Everything was agreed upon. And by the way, the Leicester people are fantastic. I felt terrible. It was the second time that I had pulled the rug out from under a club."
Though the American dream was deferred, leaving only the haunting prose of a missed opportunity on Filbert Way. However, Marsch did (technically) leave City in the lurch - prior to being left in the cold himself!