Marsch Adds MLS, CPL Experience To Coaching Staff

Canadian national team head coach Jesse Marsch is leaning in on coaching experience from both the US and Canadian top flights this month.

The American is bringing in former Forge assistant coach David Edgar and former Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley to his coaching staff, with training already underway in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The duo will coach with the national team for the current international window. The men’s side will face Ukraine and Ivory Coast in friendly competition, but will depart before Canada’s Gold Cup group foray begins against Curaceo, El Salvador, and Honduras later this month.

Michael Bradley enters camp as a man who needs no introduction: Toronto FC’s captain through the club’s most successful period, the former US national team captain helped the Reds to a historic treble in 2017 and an appearance in the Concacaf Champions Cup final.

Shortly following his retirement on the pitch, Bradley followed his father to Norwegian side Stabaek for his first coaching role, turning down an offer from John Herdman to remain in the TFC camp.

See Also: Michael Bradley on Stabaek, TFC, And A New Chapter

With Bradley’s father leaving the club following its relegation last fall, it’s been unclear what’s next for Michael. Evidently, Marsch wants to test his mettle when it comes to the coaching side of things.

“The main reason is for him to see what we do and learn from it,” Marsch told the New York Times earlier this week. “But the side effect is that he’s been a big player and done big things. He’s been at World Cups. The guys all know who he is. He has a good way of just connecting with guys and sharing experiences. He’s a high-level football thinker. He’s excited about starting his coaching career.”

Also in camp for the month is former Canadian national team centre-back and previous Forge assistant coach David Edgar, who has enjoyed plenty of domestic success. Edgar won back-to-back league titles in the Canada’s top flight before transitioning to Forge’s coaching staff, where he picked up two more playoff championships titles.

The 38-year-old enjoyed a storied playing career that took him through Newcastle United, Burnley FC, Swansea City, Birmingham City, and Sheffield United over in England before he returned to Canada to ply his trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps, later playing for Nashville SC, Ottawa Fury, Hartlepool and Forge.

The Canadian national team program rotates assistant coaches to give them high-level experience, with coaches like Mauro Eustaquio (York United) and Patrice Gheisar (Halifax Wanderers) being previous additions, alongside former players like Dwayne De Rosario. We wouldn’t be surprised to see Nik Ledgerwood called up in the program soon, either.

Marsch has added a permanent fixture to the squad through Nicolas Gagnon, a former CF Montreal U-23 coach and the setpieces lead for Southampton. Having previously worked with the Canadian youth setups, he now joins the senior side as Canada’s new set-piece coach.

Header Image Photo Credit: John Jacques