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What’s wrong with ‘soccer’?
JAMES NALTON can’t comprehend the hatred of the American use of the word, and thinks Leeds’ new head coach should be judged on whether he can keep them up this season
Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch (left) and coach Franz Schiemer during a training session

“PEOPLE hate hearing the word soccer,” said Jesse Marsch in his first pre-match press conference as manager of Leeds United.

The Racine, Wisconsin native had just been asked whether there was a stigma around US coaches in English football, especially considering the struggles Bob Bradley faced during his time managing Swansea City in the Premier League in 2016.

It probably made sense for Marsch to give such an answer and makes his life a trifle easier in the early stages of what will be a difficult job. 

If the response on social media to posts using the word “soccer” is anything to go by, he might be right, too.

He also made a noticeable effort to pronounce the name of the league “premier league” rather than “prem-eer league” as it can often come across in an American accent and gave his hometown as the nearby and more recognisable Milwaukee.

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