Marcelo Bielsa has been a revelation for Leeds United this season.
Paul Heckingbottom has suggested to Leeds Live that he may have played a minor role in Leeds United’s appointment of Marcelo Bielsa.
The renowned Argentine coach replaced axed Heckingbottom at Leeds last summer.
United are big favourites to win automatic promotion into the Premier League in what has been a brilliant season under Bielsa, whose side won seven games in a row prior to Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Hull.
The 63-year-old is a hugely popular figure among the Leeds fans, and not only for implementing a stylish brand of football which might well secure the club’s long-awaited top-flight return, but also for reigniting the hopes and dreams of many supporters.
It seems logical that owner Andrea Radrizzani, managing director Angus Kinnear and Director of Football Victor Orta are most responsible for luring the former Argentina, Lazio and Athletic Bilbao boss to West Yorkshire.
But Heckingbottom, who only joined Leeds last February, suggests that he may have planted the idea originally.
He told Leeds Live: “I actually spoke to the director of football at Leeds about Bilbao and the way they played and I probably put the idea in his head. ‘Oh, let’s go get Marcelo.’”
Bielsa’s side are still top of the Championship in spite of yesterday’s defeat, considering that second-placed Norwich also lost.
The Elland Road are three points clear of the Canaries and boast a five-point cushion in the automatic promotion spots.
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