A former Premier League manager has explained why he has decided to stay away from his old club after leaving despite being a beloved figure by supporters
19:11, 27 Mar 2026
LEEDS, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Marcelo Bielsa the head coach / manager of Leeds United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on February 26, 2022 in Leeds, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)
Marcelo Bielsa has finally disclosed why he hasn't returned to Leeds since his dismissal four years ago. The beloved ex-Leeds manager is back on British soil as his Uruguay team face England in a friendly at Wembley on Friday evening.
The 70-year-old ranks among the most cherished bosses in the West Yorkshire outfit's history, having steered them to a memorable promotion in 2020, at last bringing their 16-year Premier League exile to an end.
Bielsa departed the Elland Road outfit in February 2022 following nearly four years at the helm. Speaking about his Leeds departure for the first time on Thursday, he revealed: "I have not been back because of the feelings of nostalgia.
LEEDS, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26: Marcelo Bielsa the head coach / manager of Leeds United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on February 26, 2022 in Leeds, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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Bielsa is a club hero at Leeds(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)
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"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." The Argentine continued: "I hope that Leeds will manage to remain up because that is where they belong. The club is an institution with resources and players good enough to keep them up."
Regarding the clash with England, the veteran remarked: "Every match is an opportunity.
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"Obviously I'm not oblivious to the quality of the sides we're facing, but I always prefer that the fixtures we contest demand the very best from us.
"And the speculation surrounding a match that occurred four months ago, beyond the very difficult result I had to accept... for me, playing against the best always thrills me."
He continued: "Competing against an English side, given the heritage 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."