Jesse Marsch has branded Dominik Szoboszlai "the modern-day David Beckham"
Marsch was a key figure in the Hungarian's youth development.
After coaching Red Bull's New York franchise, he made the major step in his own career to move to Europe where he became Salzburg boss, and as a result inherited a then-18-year-old Szoboszlai.
The American would also follow the player to Leipzig in 2021 - Szoboszlai making the switch in January that year and Marsch in summer
Remembering the returning from the stoppage caused by Covid-19 in 2020
Marsch said:
"We had a team meeting and I stood Szobo in front of everyone and said, 'This is now your time. You are ready to lead this team'.
"He did exactly that. The following day he scored the first goal in the Austrian Cup final, which we won 5-0.
"Then we steamrolled through the rest of the league. We won 7-2 at Rapid Vienna.
"They had never given up seven goals at home in their 120-year history, but again Szobo scored one and had two or three assists.
"This is when he exploded and everyone knew how good he was going to be. We knew he was destined to be a superstar.
"He has known for years this was his path. This is the way it is supposed to go. He is the hope and pride of his nation, seen as ‘the next Puskas’."
Marsch added
"When the ball is on his right foot he can put it anywhere he wants,"
"The precision and the pace he can put on the ball is ridiculous. And I say ‘modern day’ because he is more mobile and more dynamic."
"When I heard Dominik killed it on Liverpool’s lactose test run in pre-season, I thought, ‘There you go and there he goes’.
“Szobo loves being part of a team. He loves being with team-mates. He loves to laugh. He loves to train. He will stick around training every day to participate in any group activity. He loves competing and he loves football, but he also loves the feeling of achieving success with others.
"Liverpool got a steal at £60 million. Szobo has an elegance and technical ability to go with a physical package which make him unique. There are not many players with his physical stature who can run as he can with the intelligence.
"I watched both Liverpool games [against Chelsea and Bournemouth] and for me he was the best player. It is the perfect club for him. Liverpool and Jurgen have been really smart to take him."
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