It resonates with fans too with Shaffelburg’s name prominent on the back of shirts at Nashville and he smiles when asked to explain his popularity.
“I guess I’d say I’m relatable and I guess for maybe some of the casual viewers or new viewers, I would be very exciting to watch,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the most technical player. I’m not a player that wants to play backwards or play the less exciting pass. I like to go forward and attack and take more risks.
“So I guess I could be more of a fan favorite because I do that stuff and also I just feel like I’m a normal guy. I guess. I try to be,” he said.
The modern academies have faced some criticism for producing a generation of players afraid to take such risks but Shaffelburg, who for a while ran track at school, isn’t impressed by the priorities of contemporary tactics.
‘Boring’ possession
“I got somewhat fast in high school so I was excited to get back (to football) and I wanted to use it as much as possible,” he said.
“I’ve just never really been that much of a technical player or liked the style of play of a lot of possession. I find it a little boring. So that’s why I’ve been having a lot of fun with Jesse and his style,” he added.
Marsch has suggested in the past that Shaffelburg, who was traded by Toronto to Nashville, could excel in Europe and the player recently signed with the Wasserman agency who have in the past been able to find North American players deals abroad.
Should he eventually move on from Nashville, Marsch says any coach taking him on needs to be ready to commit to the player and his style — as a player and a person.
“Jacob is, I think, an example of somebody who needs to feel invested in and needs to feel a connection. And if he feels that, he’ll do anything for himself, for the team, for the coach, for the program,” he said.
There is another side of Shaffelburg that goes against the grain of the modern game where players can be as robotic off the pitch as they are on it.
His relaxed demeanour and light-hearted approach is another throwback and one that seems to work well for him, especially with Marsch.
“When you start talking about Jacob, you can see that I get a smile on my face right away because he’s just such a likable person,” said the American.
© 2025 AFP