Managerial success is measured in silverware, but rarely do we consider the long-term influence of a coach on their players and peers. Marcelo Bielsa can’t boast a lavish trophy cabinet, but what he does enjoy is the acclaim of some of the greatest managers of the modern era.
El Loco – The Madman
Influenced by the pragmatic Carlos Bilardo and the expressive César Luis Menotti, Bielsa adopted the best qualities of their contrasting philosophies and tactics. Marcelo Bielsa molded them into a distinctive style of his own.
He took the repetitive training drills and meticulous opposition research from Bilardo and married them with a love of attacking soccer and the entertaining modus operandi of Menotti’s sides.
Combine those ideas with an immense adoration of Total Football’s fluidity and the intense pressing of Ajax teams from the 1970s, as well as Óscar Tabárez’s focus on youth and quick transitions, and you get one of the most significant soccer philosophies of all time.
Bielsa was a revolutionary, earning him the nickname El Loco – The Madman.
The Student Becomes The Teacher
Marcelo Bielsa’s teams rely heavily on fitness and discipline. His manic press and quick transitions ask a lot of his players. He likes to play vertically with a lot of fluidity and positional flexibility; dependable passing from deep and the movement of midfielders and outside backs help create overloads and overwhelm the opposition.
The four pillars of Bielsa’s philosophy – permanent concentration, movement, rotation, and repenitización (a kind of improvisation) – have inspired the most prominent minds in football today. Diego Simeone, Mauricio Pochettino, and Tata Martino played under the 66-year-old and were profoundly influenced by their former coach.
But, of course, one of his biggest admirers is Pep Guardiola. They met up after the Spaniard retired in 2006 to pontificate about the game and discuss tactics. Zinedine Zidane and countless professional soccer players idolize the Argentine.
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Marcelo Bielsa Hardships
Throughout his illustrious career, Bielsa has experienced his fair share of suffering. His Argentina side crashed out in the group stages of the Soccer World Cup 2002 , despite entering the tournament as one of the favorites. He wept uncontrollably in the locker room afterward and had to step away from football for three months.
In 2016, he lasted just two days at Lazio before terminating his contract. At Lille, he ousted numerous senior members of the squad, ultimately leading to his sacking.
Leeds Boss Marcelo Bielsa Restoring Former Glory
After his unsuccessful stint in France, Bielsa ventured into English football for the first time in his career. Leeds United had gone through eleven managers in the 2010s before he arrived in 2018. It’s fair to say he has made an impact. He has revitalized a fallen giant and has brought passion back to Elland Road.
In typical Bielsa fashion, it hasn’t been without controversy, though. In 2019, Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa told his team to let Aston Villa score uncontested after Leeds took advantage of an injury; and of course, who could forget Spygate.
Marcelo Bielsa has returned Leeds to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. Something countless others before him failed to do. It’s a testament to what an incredible manager he is and how much he loves football regardless of the challenge he faces.
In February 2022, the premier league club Leeds United sacked the former Argentina national manager after a consecutive run of losses.
Marcelo Bielsa Football Timeline
Marcelo Bielsa is an Argentine former professional football player and coach. He was born in Rosario, Argentina, on July 21, 1955.
He began his career playing defense at Newell’s Old Boys, where he helped lead the team to two league titles and the 1992 Copa Libertadores Final.
After his success at Newell’s, the club renamed its stadium after him. He also managed the Argentina national team in 1998, leading them to the 2002 World Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal in 2004.
In 2007, he became the coach of Chile and led them to the 2010 World Cup. He also had successful coaching stints with Athletic Bilbao, Olympique de Marseille, and Leeds United.
Marcelo Bielsa Facts And Figures
Full Name: Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera
Birthdate: 21/07/1955
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Playing Career:
- Newell’s Old Boys 1975–1977
- Instituto 1978–1979
- Argentino de Rosario 1979–1980
Total Appearances: 113 games
Managerial Career:
- Newell’s Old Boys 1990–1992
- Atlas 1993–1995
- Club América 1995–1996
- Vélez Sarsfield 1997–1998
- Espanyol 1998
- Argentina National Team 1998–2004
- Chile National Team 2007–2011
- Athletic Bilbao 2011–2013
- Marseille 2014–2015
- Lazio 2016
- Lille 2017
- Leeds United 2018–2022
Managerial Honors:
Newell’s Old Boys
- 1991 and 1992: Primera División Argentina Champions
- 1992: Copa Libertadores Runners-up
Vélez Sarsfield
- 1998 : Primera División Argentina Champions
Argentina National Teams
- 2004: Summer Olympics Gold Medal
- 2004: CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament Winners
- 2004: Copa América Runners-up
Athletic Bilbao
- 2011–12: Copa del Rey Runners-up
- 2011–12: UEFA Europa League Runners-up [1]
Leeds United
- 2019–20: EFL Championship Winners
References:
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcelo_Bielsa
Images:
Bryn Lennon / Getty Images (main image)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcelo_Bielsa
Albert Gea / Reuters
https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/23434/13-facts-about-marcelo-bielsa
