Howard Wilkinson reflects on Leeds United's return to the Premier League and Marcelo Bielsa's bold approach

LEGENDARY former Leeds United boss Howard Wilkinson has hailed Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa for sticking to his beliefs and steering the club back to the Premier League.
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Wilkinson masterminded United's climb out of English football's second tier back in 1990 as Leeds went up as winners of the old Division Two before becoming champions of England two years later.

A 14-year stay in the country's top flight was then ended by the heartbreak of relegation in 2004 but ,16 years on, United are finally back in the big time with the Whites guaranteed an automatic promotion place after second-placed West Brom's 2-1 loss at Huddersfield Town on Friday night.

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Former Argentina boss Bielsa took the United hotseat in the summer of 2018 and inherited a squad that had finished 13th the previous campaign.

THE LAST TIME: Legendary former Whites manager Howard Wilkinson, second right, celebrates Leeds United's promotion from the old Division Two as champions in 1990 at the club's civic reception. Picture by Varleys.THE LAST TIME: Legendary former Whites manager Howard Wilkinson, second right, celebrates Leeds United's promotion from the old Division Two as champions in 1990 at the club's civic reception. Picture by Varleys.
THE LAST TIME: Legendary former Whites manager Howard Wilkinson, second right, celebrates Leeds United's promotion from the old Division Two as champions in 1990 at the club's civic reception. Picture by Varleys.

Bielsa's high-press, energetic and attacking football then looked certain to take United up in his first season only for the Whites to eventually finish third and suffer heartache in the play-offs semi-finals to Derby County.

But one year on, the same approach has finally seen Leeds promoted and Wilkinson has been highly impressed with Leeds' modern day and now himself legendary head coach.

"He's different and being different doesn't necessarily mean good," said Wilkinson, speaking on Sky Sports News.

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"But he has his beliefs and he has stuck to those beliefs and he dared to be different.

"As I've seen some do, he's not trying to copy anybody, he's said 'this is who I am, this is what I believe in and this is what I know will work' and that has got to be admired."

Reflecting on how closely he had followed this season's promotion campaign, Wilkinson said: "Obviously once you are in football and football is as it were your profession, you never really stop following it so very closely but not as close as when you are actually involved.

"But it is good to see a club like Leeds United, a one club city and excellent supporters, it is good to see them back into a theatre which they could grace if they get things right going forward."

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Asked if he had allowed himself a little celebration, Wilkinson said: "Well obviously!

"You spend a long time at a football club and then you grow an affinity with it as I did with Leeds and the supporters in Leeds."

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Thank you Laura Collins