Marcelo Bielsa: Leeds United sack Argentine manager after loss to Tottenham

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa has been sacked by Leeds United after a run of poor type that noticed his facet endure a number of heavy defeats.

Below Bielsa, Leeds completed ninth final season on their return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.

However Saturday’s 4-0 defeat by Tottenham meant they’d misplaced their previous 4 video games by an mixture rating of 17-2.

“This has been the hardest determination I’ve needed to make throughout my tenure at Leeds United, bearing in mind all of the success Marcelo has had on the membership,” stated Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani.

“With Marcelo as our head coach, we had three unbelievable campaigns and the great occasions returned to Elland Highway. He modified the tradition of the membership and introduced a profitable mentality to us all.”

Leeds had completed mid-table within the Championship in six of the earlier seven seasons earlier than Bielsa’s arrival.

After they misplaced within the play-offs to Derby within the 2018-19 season, Bielsa’s workforce was promoted as champions in July 2020 when the next season restarted after the coronavirus pandemic.

Radrizzani added: “I’ve to behave in the perfect curiosity of the membership and I imagine a change is required now with a view to safe our Premier League standing. Latest outcomes and performances haven’t met our expectations.

“We discover ourselves in a precarious league place and I really feel now’s the best time to herald a brand new head coach, with a view to have an effect within the decisive stage of the season.”

Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, who grew to become an England worldwide beneath Bielsa’s steering, was among the many many Whites gamers who posted their gratitude to the previous Argentina, Chile and Athletic Bilbao coach on social media.

“The person who modified the whole lot for everybody,” stated Bamford.

Who might change Bielsa?

Leeds stated they had been aiming to make an announcement on Bielsa’s substitute on Monday.

Former RB Leipzig coach Jesse Marsch is considered the favorite to take over.

The 48-year-old American, who has additionally coached New York Purple Bulls and Purple Bull Salzburg, left the German membership in November after a five-month spell ended by mutual consent.

Different potential candidates might embrace former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, who changed Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao and is presently out of labor, and Huddersfield boss Carlos Corberan.

How did Bielsa’s fortunes flip this season?

Earlier than Saturday’s match towards Spurs, Bielsa stated he was “very frightened” about Leeds’ type, having misplaced 4 of their 5 Premier League video games earlier than the go to of Antonio Conte’s facet.

The workforce’s defensive deficiencies had been clear once more as Spurs scored three targets within the opening 27 minutes, creating extra alternatives earlier than including a late fourth.

That loss got here on the again of a 3-0 defeat at relegation rivals Everton, a 4-2 house loss to Manchester United and a 6-0 thrashing at Liverpool.

Bielsa – who has beforehand been known as the “greatest coach on the planet” by each Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino – oversaw simply 5 league wins in 26 video games this season.

Lengthy-term accidents to key gamers – influential midfielder Kalvin Phillips, captain Liam Cooper and top-scorer Bamford – had been detrimental.

Regardless of Leeds having conceded probably the most targets within the Premier League this time period, Bielsa had stated that enjoying with a extra defensive strategy was “not an choice”.

Defeat by Spurs was Leeds’ third consecutive house loss, and likewise means they’ve misplaced all 9 league matches this season towards the established ‘large six’ golf equipment by an mixture rating of 34-7.

The romantic who restored Leeds United – evaluation

BBC Radio Leeds’ Adam Pope:

It was by no means meant to finish like this.

Marcelo Bielsa, the romantic who restored Leeds United to the Premier League enjoying the purest of soccer, has the saddest of farewells.

His legacy will shine far past the scenes of a few of his workers in tears within the stand and the membership in peril of relegation after a fourth consecutive defeat.

Make no mistake, regardless of the requires his departure in some quarters, the Argentine leaving Leeds will really feel like a devastating blow for almost all of the supporters.

With out his ever having needed to be the main focus of consideration, his humility, philosophy and skill instantly endeared him to the fanbase and put him on the epicentre of an attractive revolution.

That change started in earnest within the pre-season of 2018, by the tip of which he had revitalised a squad who put newly relegated Stoke Metropolis to the sword in his first aggressive fixture.

‘Bielsa-ball’ was born and the gamers, stands and metropolis had been bouncing. Early in that first marketing campaign I recall supporters applauding Bielsa on the providers on the best way house from a 3-0 win over Norwich. They had been smitten already. His capacity to persuade his fees of his strategies was swift too.

Getting them to go once more and safe promotion after the heartbreak of play-off semi-final defeat is testomony to his extraordinary teaching.