Marcelo Bielsa Credit: Imago
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Marcelo Bielsa remains a cult hero at Leeds United, and the side he led to promotion in 2020 has firmly earned its place in the club’s folklore.
The former Leeds boss is back in the country this week as he prepares the Uruguay national team for a friendly against the England national team on Friday night.
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Bielsa’s status at Leeds is untouchable. He ended the club’s 16-year exile from the top flight in 2020 and followed it up with a top-half Premier League finish in his very first season.
Marcelo Bielsa – Leeds United Managerial Record
Overall record of Marcelo Bielsa during his time as Leeds United manager
Statistic Value
Matches 170
Wins 81
Draws 30
Losses 59
Goals (For: Against) 274:238
Points 273
Points Per Match 1.61
That promotion-winning squad also share a deep bond with the Argentinian, with huge respect for the impact he had on their careers and development.
Simon Jordan reveals his admiration for Marcelo Bielsa
Bielsa’s football even pleased the neutrals, and many agreed Leeds played some of the most breathtaking football in the Championship under him before getting promoted.
Simon Jordan is a fan of the former Leeds manager’s strong character, the brand of football he played and the way he presented himself to the world.
He insisted that Bielsa played by his own rules and standards and was prepared to suffer the consequences rather than adapt and be someone else.
Jordan said on talkSPORT: “He is a very strong character in lots of different ways.
“The brand of football that he plays, the manner in which he represents himself.
“And that all caught a reaction.
“I prefer strong characters, I prefer people who live and die by their own standards, and are prepared to accept the consequences and the upsides of making decisions.”
In recent footage, Bielsa was seen getting emotional when he received a shirt from his former Leeds player Mateusz Klich.
His tenure with Uruguay has been stormy
Marcelo Bielsa will be back on the biggest stage this summer as he leads the Uruguay national team at the World Cup in North America, having been one of the first sides to qualify.
But things nearly fell apart late last year, when several Uruguay players reportedly threatened to boycott the team if Bielsa stayed in charge.
Several senior figures were unhappy with him and even pushed the federation to consider making a change just months before the tournament.
In the end, the hierarchy backed Bielsa, and it now appears those issues have been put to one side as both the manager and the squad focus on the World Cup.