“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.

“I think my ethos fits well with this club and this community here in Leeds,” he said.

“Even where I am from — Milwaukee, Wisconsin — it reminds me a little bit of Leeds.

“I come from a hard-working family, my father worked in a factory for 32 years, I only know working hard and giving everything I have and that’s all I know.”

Despite the awareness of the stigma shown in his answer, in many ways Marsch is already naturally immersed in European football. 

The culture and the language around the game on this side of the pond is more ingrained in him than was the case with Bradley.

Marsch learned German during his time with Austria’s Red Bull franchise in Salzburg and his short spell at their big brother club RB Leipzig in Germany.

In recent years he’s probably been more used to calling the game “fussball,” which then has an easy transition to football and northern English vowel pronunciation.

“I've used the word football since I was a professional football player,” he added.

Some in the United States even use the word football or the Spanish — futbol — to refer to the game, and many clubs have FC as part of their name.

But what’s wrong with soccer?

The word soccer originated in England in the late 19th century as a shortening of the word “association.”

It differentiated association football from rugby football which developed a similar nickname, especially in the public schools — rugger.

The word football on its own covers many sports across the world including rugby football, Gaelic football, American or Canadian football (gridiron), and Australian rules football, as well as the association game.

“Football” as a standalone term will often be used for the most popular version of the game in a particular region.

In Australia, for example, football or “footy” is rugby league if you’re in New South Wales or Queensland. Elsewhere in the country, it is used to refer to Aussie rules. Some diehard association football fans will use football to refer to their preferred code of the game, but it’s mostly called soccer.

Even in Britain, though, there are many examples of the word soccer being used rather than football.

Two of the most popular football shows of recent decades are Soccer AM and Soccer Saturday, while one of the most renowned football publications, World Soccer, hails from this country.

An event called Soccer Aid is staged every year in England to raise money for charity.

The word is regularly seen in British publications from the last century, including books, annuals, magazines and newspaper reports, used innocently and without objection.

Nobody, or very few people, have complained about the word soccer in these contexts. It appears to be the American use of the word that causes such unnecessary outrage.

Soccer AM itself has a lighthearted sketch depicting an exaggerated American coach named Brad Bobley, based on the aforementioned Bradley.

Rather than being mean spirited, this is the programme’s way of showing its love for the former Swansea coach who has since gone on to have more success back home in Major League Soccer.

But in terms of language, Marsch might be right when he tentatively says of American coaches in England, “I think there’s probably a stigma!? I’m not sure Ted Lasso helped!”

But coaches will be judged primarily on performances and playing style. It would be a shame for the attention to not turn to that side of Marsch’s work after the initial giddiness (on both sides of the Atlantic, it has to be said) around the mention of Lasso — the popular TV series depicting a gridiron coach thrown in at the deep end at an English soccer team.

The argument Bradley was judged solely on being American, rather than results and performances, is as unhelpful as arguing football should not be called soccer.

Back at Leeds outgoing coach the eccentric Marcelo Bielsa became a club legend by letting his own character shine through and by implementing a style of football that was entertaining and, until recently, successful.

Bielsa’s character was embraced, just as he embraced the city. He may have been guarded at times with the media, but the people of Leeds knew him well and he knew them.

Marsch is a much different character to Bielsa (there isn’t really anyone like the Argentine, to be fair) but has already got off to a good start in his public appearances thanks to a combination of modesty and humour coupled with supreme confidence in his own methods.

This was epitomised by part of his answer on the subject of the acceptance of American coaches.

“This is the fifth country I've coached football in,” he added.

“It takes me out of my comfort zone every time, it challenges me to grow and develop and learn new things.

“I’m very open to that and cognisant of the fact I’m not perfect, and I don’t want to be.”

The task facing Marsch isn’t an easy one, though the transition from Bielsa to him shouldn’t be too much of a culture shock to the players. 

There are some similarities in their styles of play, but Leeds will hope that the new manager adds some stability and structure to a team that was losing its way.

Marsch will be judged on whether Leeds remain in the Premier League, his style of play, and his adaptation to Leeds as a club and a city. 

The first sporting test comes against Leicester City at lunchtime tomorrow, where Leeds fans will be hoping to see some entertaining, committed, organised and ultimately winning soccer.