Leeds United employee delighted by Marsch reveal – ‘it fills my heart with joy’
Noel Whelan has hailed Jesse Marsch’s plans to continue pushing for youth development and academy progress at Leeds United.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker and club ambassador admitted the 48-year-old’s vision for the club “fills my heart with joy”.
Speaking to the Athletic (24 March), Marsch revealed he aims to “integrate the academy” to have an impact on Leeds’ “playing model” and “business model.”
Leeds have a proud history of bringing youth talent into the first team and have relied on academy products bolstering the squad in recent seasons.
Whelan admitted he was over the moon to hear Marsch highlight how important youth development is to him and the club.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s one thing that was never broken.
“One thing that’s been really successful is the flourishing players coming from the under-23s into first-team football. They’re bolstering the squad when needed and none of them have let us down.
“They’re players for the future, they’re players that will be integrated. I’m sure Jesse Marsch knows the history of the club and how many players came through the ranks.
“It’s one pathway that wasn’t broken and didn’t need any cement putting on it, put it that way. It’s been really successful.
“He’s come in and recognised that. He has the same principles and values of how important it is to bring these young players through. That fills my heart with joy.
We’ve been really successful and they really have flourished.”
“It is really so important.”
Under-23s stars Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Charlie Cresswell are among those to break through this season.
Meanwhile, the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Jamie Shackleton have been first-team regulars in recent years.
In other news, pundit claims Leeds United may already have next Kalvin Phillips at Thorp Arch after transfer reveal.