In an interview with The Telegraph, former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch hinted that he might have accepted a job at Leicester City if he had a different mindset.
Marsch was strongly linked with the managerial position at the King Power Stadium in April – it was previously suggested that he would succeed Brendan Rodgers at the Midlands club.
But that move ultimately fell through – and the Foxes turned to Dean Smith, who despite his best efforts and an excellent CV, failed to keep the club in the Premier League.
A 2-1 win against West Ham United on the final day was not enough to stay up – and it was inevitable that players would leave in the summer transfer window that followed last season.
They may have sold Harvey Barnes and James Maddison and valuable players in the summer, but under Enzo Maresco, who took them to the top of the Championship table, they are in a good position at the moment.
Marsch also made a bid for the Southampton job after Nathan Jones was sacked in February, but that offer came very soon after the American’s departure from Elland Road.
In the end, the councillors had to opt for the second option and make an internal appointment, with Ruben Selles taking over until the end of the season.
However, the South Primrose side also fell – and in retrospect – it was perhaps right that Marsch did not accept either of the two jobs at a time when he could have joined them.
One of the reasons why Marsch did not accept either of these two jobs was the possibility that he might have returned to Elland Road as Leader of the Opposition.
But there were other reasons too, which he explained to The Telegraph: “Southampton’s offer was right after Leeds. Literally a few days. I was very serious about it. I could see that internally they had some different ideas about the direction they were going in… but they were wonderful people.
“I was very close to accepting Leicester, but in the end I felt I wasn’t ready to make the leap again.
Looking back, I think it’s a wonderful club and a great city, and maybe I could have – and should have – taken the job if my mindset had been in a different place.”
Jesse Marsch was right not to accept jobs at Southampton and Leicester City:
But the Saints always seemed to be fighting to stay up after Jones’ departure, and there was no guarantee that Marsch could have turned things around.
And since this offer came just days after the latter was sacked by Leeds, it would have been risky for him to return immediately.
If he were to return to Leicester in April, it would even be a quick return to a managerial position for him.
He could have kept the Foxes afloat given the calibre of players they had at their disposal, but he wasn’t ready and would probably have struggled as a result if he had accepted the job.
Mentally, he needs to be fully prepared for the job before he accepts it and it is just a pity for him that these offers did not come in the summer, as he would have been in a better frame of mind.