United States

Jesse Marsch won't join Southampton after contract talks break down

Updated Feb. 15, 2023 3:46 p.m. ET

A day after multiple outlets reported that last-place Southampton was on the verge of hiring the American coach — who was fired by Leeds United last week — to replace Nathan Jones, the deal collapsed Wednesday because the two sides couldn't agree on the length of the contract, according to The Athletic, Sky Sports and Fabrizio Romano, soccer's leading transaction reporter.

Marsch, who had remained in England after being dismissed by Leeds, traveled to Southampton on Tuesday after being offered the job over the weekend, a source told FOX Sports. But despite positive initial negotiations and a verbal agreement in place, talks broke down on Wednesday.

Per The Athletic, the Saints were only prepared to offer Marsch a six-month contract with a club option for a second year, while Marsch was looking for a longer-term appointment given the club's precarious position in the Premier League, per the reports. Jones, who was fired on Sunday following Saturday's defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, inked a three-and-a-half year pact when he succeeded Austrian Ralph Hasenhüttl in November.

Southampton had wanted to fill its coaching vacancy quickly and have Marsch in place in time for Saturday's daunting trip to London to face Chelsea. Instead, an interim manager, Ruben Selles, will be on the sideline against the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

Former Chelsea and Everton coach Frank Lampard and ex-Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard were also considered for the Saints vacancy, the Athletic's story claimed. It's unclear if Southampton will now circle back to either man, both former World Cup players for England, or if a deal with Marsch could still be reached.

If not, Marsch would once again become a candidate to coach his native United States for the 2026 World Cup cycle — assuming he's not snapped up before the U.S. Soccer Federation is ready to hire a coach for the USMNT. Last month, USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone said that whoever replaces outgoing sporting director Earnie Stewart would lead the coaching search. A replacement for Stewart isn't expected to be named before the summer, meaning the U.S. men likely won't have a full-time manager until this fall.

Barring a change of plans, 2022 World Cup assistant coach Anthony Hudson will lead the USMNT through this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup and Nations League finals.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.

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