Leeds United have been impressing under Marcelo Bielsa.
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has famously picked up the nickname ‘El Loco’ over the years, and you don’t earn a nickname like that without some particularly curious actions.
From signing Mauricio Pochettino for Newell’s Old Boys in the middle of the night simply from one look at his legs to some baffling stories offered up by his former Marseille defender Benjamin Mendy, Bielsa is one of football’s great characters.
The Argentinian was the shock appointment as Leeds United boss over the summer following Paul Heckingbottom’s exit, and he has so far lived up to his billing.
Bielsa has pushed a remarkable brand of football at Elland Road, and Leeds sit second in the Championship table, two points behind first-place Sheffield United as they chase promotion back to the Premier League.
Bielsa will be looking to take Leeds back to the top flight this season, but there are lingering questions over just how long he will be in charge at Elland Road, starting with the fact that he signed just a two-year deal when he took the reins.
Now 63, Bielsa may be coming to the end of his time as a manager, and the nomadic nature of his career has some wondering whether he will be there beyond the end of that deal, even with an option of a third year on the table.
Bielsa’s career reads like this; two years at Newell’s, two years at Atlas, a year at America, a year at Velez Sarsfield, just months at Espanyol, six years as Argentina boss, four years in charge of Chile, two years at Athletic Bilbao, a year at Marseille, two days – yes, two days – as Lazio manager and seven months at Lille before taking over at Leeds.
Athletic are the only club Bielsa has managed for more than 100 games, and he has only managed three teams for more than 70 games; Newell’s, Atlas and Athletic, so it’s understandable that some think he could be on the move quickly.
Now, pundit Craig Bellamy has told Sky Sports’ The Debate that he thinks Leeds fans should enjoy him this year and maybe next year, as he won’t be at Elland Road any longer than that, judging by his history of his players wearing out by his third year in charge and then him quitting.
“He’ll go and pick a team, and he’ll do a project for a couple of years,” said Bellamy. “And then what he’ll do, the first year is unbelievable, the second year is brilliant, the players are worn out and in the third year he’s not there, he’s gone – he walks away at that right time, because he knows the way he demands the professionalism, the way he works them, he knows there’s a short time period on that. Leeds should enjoy him this year, maybe enjoy him for next year, because you won’t see him any longer than that,” he added.
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