41 Facts About Marcelo Bielsa

Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is an Argentine professional football manager who is the current manager of the Uruguay national team.

Marcelo Bielsa is considered to be among the most influential football coaches of all time by many.

Marcelo Bielsa played as a defender in Newell's Old Boys' First Division team, but retired when he was 25 to focus on coaching.

Marcelo Bielsa has managed several football clubs and the national teams of Argentina and Chile.

Marcelo Bielsa developed his career as coach of Newell's Old Boys where he won several titles in the early 1990s, before moving to Mexico in 1992, briefly coaching Club Atlas and Club America.

Marcelo Bielsa returned to Argentina in 1997 to manage Velez Sarsfield, leading them to the 1998 league title.

Marcelo Bielsa had a two year-spell in Spain at Athletic Bilbao between 2011 and 2013, leading them to domestic and continental cup finals in the first season, though they lost both.

In 1980, after retiring from playing in football, Marcelo Bielsa decided to start a career as a football manager.

Marcelo Bielsa managed the squad that competed in the final of the 1992 Copa Libertadores, losing to Sao Paulo on penalties.

In 1998, Marcelo Bielsa was given the job of manager at Spanish La Liga side Espanyol, but he soon left after being offered the management of the Argentina national team later that year, taking over after a four-year period by Daniel Passarella as manager.

Marcelo Bielsa was asked what he had made of the referee's performance.

Marcelo Bielsa resigned at the end of 2004, being succeeded by Jose Pekerman.

Marcelo Bielsa's appointment brought about visible changes in the Chilean set-up, with the fast-tracking of young talents and a more attacking mindset away from home.

On 2 August 2010, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, President of the Chilean Football Board, announced that Marcelo Bielsa would remain with the Chile team until 2015.

Marcelo Bielsa stated that he would leave his position if Jorge Segovia was elected as the new President of the Chilean Football Board.

Marcelo Bielsa followed through on this threat, despite Segovia's election being annulled, and resigned in February 2011.

Marcelo Bielsa subsequently made headlines for his brief and cold greeting to Pinera in the farewell before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Marcelo Bielsa wanted them to pray for his team, which they continued to do.

Marcelo Bielsa signed a two-year contract set to begin after the 2014 World Cup, thus becoming the club's first Argentine coach.

Marcelo Bielsa later explained that the club had been unable to recruit the players he had wanted by the deadline he had given to the club and did not feel that his needs would be supported during the transfer window.

On 24 May 2017, Marcelo Bielsa was unveiled as the new manager of Ligue 1 club Lille on a two-year contract.

Marcelo Bielsa then signed younger 'promising' players such as Nicolas Pepe, Thiago Mendes, Thiago Maia, Kevin Malcuit, Fode Ballo-Toure, Luiz Araujo and Edgar Ie.

On 22 November 2017, Marcelo Bielsa was suspended as coach after just 13 games in charge, with Lille announcing he had been "suspended momentarily as coach" pending further announcement.

On 15 December 2017, Lille announced Marcelo Bielsa's contract had now been terminated.

On 15 June 2018, Marcelo Bielsa became Championship club Leeds United's new head coach to replace Paul Heckingbottom, signing a two-year contract with the option of a third year.

Marcelo Bielsa won his first three games in charge, becoming the first Leeds manager to do so since Jimmy Armfield in October 1974.

Marcelo Bielsa went on to lead Leeds United through the first six Championship rounds unbeaten and to the top of the league, and was awarded Championship Manager of the Month for August 2018 by the EFL.

Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds had to endure an extensive injury list with several of his squad picking up significant injuries within the first few months of the season.

Marcelo Bielsa was nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for December 2018, but lost out to Hull City manager Nigel Adkins.

On 28 April 2019, Marcelo Bielsa made one of the most contentious managerial calls of the Championship season in Leeds' penultimate league game against Aston Villa at Elland Road.

Marcelo Bielsa had lost loanee Jack Clarke who had been recalled by Tottenham Hotspur, with Marcelo Bielsa stating that he would be looking to replace both players.

On 27 February 2022, Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa parted ways after a streak of four consecutive losses across which Leeds conceded 17 goals, leaving them 16th in the table, two points above Burnley and one above Everton with these teams both with two games fewer than Leeds.

Marcelo Bielsa has been a heavy influence on his former players, many of whom later became coaches.

When he took the Argentina job, at the end of his first training session Marcelo Bielsa handed the players a pencil and a little slip of paper.

Marcelo Bielsa wanted them to write down whether they wanted to line up with a back three or a four.

Former Argentina national team captain Roberto Ayala, a defender under Marcelo Bielsa, stated: "Sometimes we wouldn't see any of the strikers, because he'd have them training at a different time, and it was the same with the midfielders".

Marcelo Bielsa is known for watching and collecting numerous football videos to the point of obsession.

Marcelo Bielsa uses statistical software and other technological tools to prepare for games.

John Carlin, an English journalist, has stated that Marcelo Bielsa has "the most learned football library on the planet".

Marcelo Bielsa says that there are 29 distinct formations in football and believes that every young player should be given the opportunity to experience each of them.

Marcelo Bielsa is credited with the rise of the Leeds United and England international player Kalvin Phillips, with former Leeds United Manager Howard Wilkinson stating: "Marcelo Bielsa can take huge credit for the player that Phillips has developed into".