Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has spoken of his respect for Ralph Hasenhuttl ahead of facing his Southampton side at the weekend.
Marsch briefly worked under the Austrian when he was in charge at Red Bull Leipzig and says he has mirrored much of his own managerial career from what he learnt during his time under the 54-year-olds stewardship.
“In 16/17, Ralph allowed me to join his staff for six or seven weeks. He is an incredible human being, a really good person and cares about the environments he creates. Sharp, intelligent manager. He believes in a lot of the same principles as me and I learned a lot from what I spent with him.”
The American would go on to officially become assistant at the club to current Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick for the 2018/19 season, before leaving after a year to become a head coach in his own right at sister club Red Bull Salzburg.
After a successful spell in Austria where he won two league and cup doubles Marsch returned to Leipzig this time in the managerial hotseat for the start of the current season.
It ultimately didn’t click between club and coach with the 48-year-old agreeing a mutual departure in December, but he holds no bitterness over the experience and still sees his early days at the German side studying under Hassenhuttl as a key part of his formation as a coach.
“He really is a gentleman. He took me on a tour of the facility and talked about the things they were doing in the gym. Often I was a fly on the wall. One day he had the whole staff at his house for a dinner and invited me. A Really good piano player and a gentleman.”
This weekend offers Marsch the first time to test his wits against one of his early mentors in the European game and he will be looking for a third successive victory to continue carrying his Leeds side further away from the Premier League’s relegation zone.
