Hasselbaink admits he recently returned to Leeds to study Bielsa’s training

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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is looking to learn from Marcelo Bielsa.

Ex-Leeds United striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told Sky Sports that he has recently returned to the club in order to study Marcelo Bielsa’s methods.

The Whites landed a shock appointment in Bielsa over the summer, brining him in as a big-name replacement for Paul Heckingbottom in the Elland Road dugout.

Bielsa – known as ‘El Loco’ for his bizarre approach – has so far been a great success at Elland Road, and has Leeds seriously challenging for promotion back to the Premier League.

A 4-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion before the international break has dented spirits a little, but Leeds sit third in the Championship table, one point off an automatic spot.

Bielsa deserves huge praise for the way he has revolutionised this Leeds side, and it’s no great surprise that he is named as an inspiration to many managers.

Mauricio Pochettino, Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone, Jorge Sampaoli and Eduardo Berizzo are just some of the managers who were inspired by Bielsa, and a former Leeds striker may be looking for the same.

Hasselbaink – who hit 42 goals in 87 games for Leeds in the late 1990’s – was showing managerial promise in a superb stint at Burton Albion, but then struggled with QPR and Northampton Town, being sacked by both.

After more than six months out of the game, the Dutchman has now revealed that he has visited Bielsa to study his training methods and chat with him, noting that it was impressive to see him in work – and predicted a bright future for the club under Bielsa’s management.

“Bielsa came in with a big reputation,” said Hasselbaink. “He’s been coaching and managing for a long, long time so we knew how he played. We know how he is and what he is about. Last week I went to see Bielsa in training and had a chat with him and to see what he’s doing. Everybody’s talking about him – Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino – they are all talking about him.”

“They are all looking at him and learning from him and that is one of the reasons why I wanted to go and see him as well. It was very impressive to see him work, to see his methods and to get an understanding, and I think Leeds has got a really bright future ahead,” he added.