Marcelo Bielsa is now the head coach of Uruguay, but he is a cult hero among Leeds United supporters after guiding the club back to the Premier League
Connor O'Neill Senior Sports Content Creator
05:00, 27 Mar 2026
Marcelo Bielsa
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Marcelo Bielsa has explained why he has not returned to Leeds United(Image: (Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images))
Marcelo Bielsa has finally revealed why he has not returned to Leeds since being sacked four years ago. The much-loved former Leeds boss is back in the UK as his Uruguay side take on England in a friendly at Wembley on Friday night.
The 70-year-old is one of the most popular managers in the West Yorkshire club's history, having guided them to an unforgettable promotion in 2020, finally ending their 16-year absence from the Premier League.
Bielsa parted company with the Elland Road club in February 2022 after almost four years in charge.
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And speaking about his Leeds exit for the first time, he said on Thursday: “I have not been back because of the feelings of nostalgia.
“Sometimes we have to resist the feeling of going back and I want to keep those feelings of nostalgia. Being at Leeds gave me the most beautiful memories and one of the best gifts football has given me.
“The power that English football really has is based on the fans and the unconditional love of the supporters to build a great league. This English league would not be what it is if it were not for how their fans feel. For me, I was at Leeds for four years.
“But in three games, my team conceded 14 goals and it would be very difficult to survive that. I always understood it (getting the sack) as justified.”
Marcelo Bielsa celebrates Leeds United winning promotion to the Premier League in 2020
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Marcelo Bielsa led Leeds to a famous promotion in 2020(Image: Getty)
The Argentine added: “I wish that Leeds will be able to stay up because that is where they should be. The club is an institution with resources and footballers good enough to keep them up.”
On facing England, the veteran said: "Every match is an opportunity.
"Obviously I'm not unaware of the quality of the teams we're up against, but I always prefer that the games we play in demand the very best from us.
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"And the speculation surrounding a match that happened four months ago, beyond the very difficult result I had to accept... for me, playing against the best always excites me."
He added: "Competing against an English team, given the history of English football and the type of competition in which 90 per cent of their players participate, is always a test that demands the best from us to overcome."
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