Why Leeds fans should be excited about rumours linking club with this Argentine veteran

Leeds United have sacked Paul Heckingbottom from the managerial post at the club, after just 16 games in charge.  

Heckingbottom was brought in as a replacement for Thomas Christiansen, who Leeds had sacked after 35 matches in charge.

The 40-year-old quit the manager’s job at Barnsley to sign an 18-month deal at Elland Road. However, with results not going his way throughout his tenure, the club’s Italian owner has decided to axe the former Barnsley boss.

He is in the search of a 4th new manager at the club in a year’s time and as per reports from the Yorkshire Evening Post, Radrizzani has his eyes set on former Chile manager Marcelo Bielsa.  

The 62-year-old Argentine has been without a job since December, when he was sacked by French Ligue 1 outfit Lille under controversial circumstances. But is heralded as one of the brightest minds in the game.

Bielsa started off his coaching career at Newell’s Old Boys back in his homeland in 1990 and went on to manage a number of clubs like Club America, Velez Sarsfield (both in Mexico), before moving to Europe with Espanyol in 1998 only to leave later that year, after having been offered the managerial job by Argentina national team.  

During his time with the Albiceleste, Bielsa led to them to a runners-up spot in the 2004 Copa America before masterminding a gold medal victory in the 2004 Olympic Games, following which he resigned from the job. Three years later, he took over as the manager of the Chile national team and spent four very fruitful years before quitting in 2011 to join Spanish La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao.  

Under Bielsa’s tutelage, Bilbao rose to prominence and went all the way to the finals of the UEFA Europa League, beating the likes of Manchester United along the way, only to falter at the final hurdle against Atletico Madrid.

He left the club in 2013 and had a year-long stint with Marseille in 2014-15 before joining Serie A side Lazio in 2016, only to sensationally leave just two days after his appointment, following which he moved to Lille.  

An unpredictable figure, Bielsa has had his fair share of controversies over the years, but his approach to the game, his philosophy and the way he sets his teams up is something that draws admirers in huge numbers.

A youth-centric coach, the 62-year-old will not hesitate in backing a young, talented player and gets his team to play an aggressive, thrilling brand of football. 

At most of the teams that he has managed throughout his career, the Argentine has used a 3-3-3-1 setup to great effect.

The system is such that it allows for quick and effective transitions from defence to attack and makes sure the team has a numerical advantage in any part of the field at any given time considering that the team can defend with seven players when under pressure, attack with six or seven players, or crowd the midfield with six bodies.  

The players are required to press hard from the top when not in possession, play sharp and incisive football when with the ball, all of which makes for exhilarating action, something that the fans enjoy feasting on.

Since his tactical knowledge and understanding of the game is so deep, it makes him flexible and unpredictable. It is due to this approach to the game, the proper understanding of all facets of the game that Bielsa has received so much adulation and admiration in the football fraternity.  

He may be a bit of a controversial figure and he might not boast of the biggest trophy cabinets but if he agrees to take over at Leeds United, there is no doubt that the fans will be in for a treat. It will go down as a major coup for the club.