Brazilian news outlet UOL have written a reflective piece following FIFA’s managerial nominations for ‘The Best’ award, and they’re not happy with Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa’s inclusion.
UOL heavily focus their debate on Eurocentrism, and question why Benfica boss Jorge Jesus – who left Flamengo over the summer – wasn’t on the shortlist instead after achieving total domination in Brazil.
Jesus won the Brasileirão title and also the Copa Libertadores, but he has not made the nominees to UOL‘s disgust.
In comparison, Bielsa achieved promotion to the Premier League in swashbuckling style, finishing ten points above West Brom as champions.
It’s very rare to see a manager make his way onto FIFA’s ‘The Best’ shortlist for his work in the Championship, and with all respect to the Argentine, some element of the worldwide respect for him potentially comes into play here.
However, it’s impossible to say that the ex-Marseille boss hasn’t done an incredible job at Elland Road.
Bielsa didn’t just get Leeds into the Premier League by the skin of their teeth.
He oversaw a total transformation in Yorkshire, coaching the likes of Patrick Bamford, Kalvin Phillips and Luke Ayling into excellent top-flight players.
He probably won’t win the award with the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Hansi Flick also on the shortlist, although there’s no denying that his work has been excellent.
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