After rumors of Marcelo Bielsar leaving Leeds United after a 4-0 defeat at home to Tottenham yesterday, Leeds United correspondent for the English sports daily The Athletic, Phil Hey, was the first to utter the words: I will always remember. ‘ Probably no supporter of the English club who would disagree with this sentence!
The magic chapter is coming to an end, she was convinced yesterday. The official announcement came today, Leeds United said in a statement, adding that the club had ended its feud with Bielsa. The 7-year-old Argentine coach, affectionately known as ‘El Loco’ (crazy), sighed!
Sighing could be the title of his coaching career. The current Pep Guardiola of Manchester City, the ‘guru’ of coaches like Mauricio Pachettino of PSG, he has hardly any coach who can analyze football like him! He eats football, he breathes football. But Bielsa, who was knocked out of the group stage by Argentina in the 2002 World Cup, has not had much success in his nearly three-decade coaching career. His team always plays dynamic offensive football, but success does not want to catch him!
Under him, Batistuta, Ortega, Aymar’s Argentina dominated the 2002 World Cup and was eliminated in the group stage, 2004 Copa America runners-up. Only won the 2004 Olympics!
Despite winning the Argentine League title three times in the 1990s, he lost to Spanish Athletic Bilbao in the final of both the 2012 Spanish Cup and Europa League.
The story of Bielsa is the same in Leeds as Bilbao spread magic even though the title did not come. The story begins in June 2016, when Leeds won the second round of the English Football Championship. His attacking footballing style touched the hearts of Leeds fans but Leeds did not have much success in the first season. After losing the play-off, he did not get close to the first division.
Bielsa brought Leeds back to the Premier League after 16 years in fine football last season
Bielsa brought Leeds back to the Premier League after 16 years in fine football last seasonPhoto: Reuters
But next season Leeds spent an incredible nine months mixing beauty and success! Leeds came up in the English Premier League after 16 years by winning the second division title by 10 points. Bielsa won the third prize in the FIFA Coach of the Year race.
Leeds looked great in the Premier League! Liverpool, Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea, but Leeds did not go crazy last season. Bielsa’s team spoke eye to eye. On the way to finishing ninth in the league, it also holds the record for most points scored by a team in the Premier League since the 2000-01 season.
Just why the success, the all-time cheerful, transparent character Bielsa didn’t feel a different pull for, a Leeds supporter probably won’t be found. Bielsao did not go less than the responsibility for the club’s supporters! Whether it’s attending an event or getting off the bus to take pictures with supporters!
But this season the story came to an end. The pull of the fans for Bielsa is the same, but the wings of Leeds flying on the field fell off! The injury of this important player today is the injury of that player tomorrow. Leeds have not invested much in buying players this season, whether it’s because the club’s balance sheet has been hit in Corona. Where else is Leeds with players who can play in tandem with the offensive football of Bielsa! With so many injuries and the lack of so many players, did Bielsao pay the price for playing a little more aggressive football? Maybe!
The last one was not beautiful for Bielsa and Leeds
The last one was not beautiful for Bielsa and LeedsPhoto: Reuters
All in all, Leeds have won just 5 of 26 league matches so far, losing 13. Man United, Man City, Liverpool – all three teams have scored. Has scored only 29 goals so far this season, but has eaten 80! With 23 points, Leeds is two steps above the relegation zone.
The top three of the three teams in the relegation zone are 6, meaning Burnley’s 18th in the points table is 21 points. However, 16th place Everton (22 points) and 16th Burnley — both teams have played two matches less than Leeds! In other words, even if Burnley and Everton win one of their two matches, Leeds will go down in the relegation zone.
The club owner had no choice but to make a difficult decision. Chairman Andrea Rodriguez said: “Considering the success Marcelo has had at the club, I have had to make the toughest decision of our career at Leeds United. After Marcelo became our head coach, the incredible three seasons at Eland Road (Leeds Stadium) had a beautiful time. But now I have to make decisions for the good of the club, and now seems to be the right time to bring in a new head coach to survive in the Premier League. ”
“He’s leaving a legacy,” said Leeds football director Victor Orta. Thorpe Arch (Leeds’ practice grounds) oversees the development of the infrastructure, unites supporters and players, and paves the way for the academy’s youth to emerge as the main team. As much as we’ve enjoyed the last few years, which is the best time of my career, I’m sorry to say that this is the end of his term! ‘
Leeds said in a statement that it was likely to announce a new coach to replace Bielsa tomorrow. However, rumors have been circulating in the English media since yesterday that Bielsa’s successor is going to be American coach Jesse Marsh, who was sacked from German club Leipzig a few days ago.