Why the Marcelo Bielsa revolution at Leeds United deserves promotion - Glynn Snodin

Leeds United worked its way into Glynn Snodin’s blood almost 50 years ago and not even the rejection he felt when the club sacked him could rid him of it.

He was 12 years old when he fell in love with the Whites and had to wait 15 years before his dream of pulling on the famous white shirt could come true. The first 12 years of his career as an attack-minded full-back were spent at Doncaster Rovers, playing alongside younger brother Ian under Leeds legend Billy Bremner.

Both Snodins were sold by Rovers in 1985, the same year Bremner returned to Elland Road as manager, Glynn moving to Sheffield Wednesday and Ian to Leeds.

In 1987 Leeds sold one Snodin and bought another, Ian moving to Everton and Glynn reuniting with Bremner in a dream move he could not turn down.

“When you’ve supported them from a kid, I saw the 1972 FA Cup final and it just grabbed me, because of the players they had, then, when you end up playing for that team, playing under the greatest captain of all time Billy Bremner, wow, it’s a dream come true,” said Snodin.

“A lot want to be involved with that club.

“When you’re a player or a coach and that club comes calling, Leeds United is one of a few clubs in the country that when they come calling I’ve got to go, I’ve got to play for them, I’ve got to manage them, that’s how it grabs you, it gets to you.

“There’s not many clubs that do that to you, because it’s such a big fanbase around the world.”

Snodin’s time at Leeds wasn’t all dreamy – he spent a frustratingly long time on the sidelines with glandular fever and struggled for first-team football when Tony Dorigo came in – but playing for the club gave him a feeling he still cannot shake, particularly when he hit the net.

“Magnificent. It’s hard to say how you feel. When you score a goal, you can’t put it into words that feeling you get, the adrenaline that’s in you. It feels so good,” he said.

“It makes you feel the best person in the world, they’re singing your name and you watched this team growing up, now you’re playing for them, wearing this shirt, playing in front of these fans.”

Snodin left Elland Road in 1992, but got the call again 17 years later, this time as a coach, as Simon Grayson’s right-hand man.

The pair guided the Whites to an FA Cup win over Manchester United and, far more significantly, a promotion that ended the League One days.

In February 2012 Leeds United sacked Grayson and his entire staff.

It ‘killed’ Snodin, but could not kill his love for the club.

“It killed me, it took a long time to get it out of my system because it was horrible, knowing you had been pushed aside, sacked by the club that you loved,” he said.

“But it’s life, you go on and try somewhere else.

“I’m still a fan, a supporter of the club. I still have high regards for the club, and the fans.

“It’s the fans that make that club what it is, home and away. The away games are like home games.”

Snodin’s interest in Leeds these days is more than a passing one, he talks about the club regularly with his boss at Chesterfield and former Whites team-mate John Sheridan.

Before that job came along, Snodin was back at Elland Road on a frequent basis as a spectator and still catches televised Leeds games when he can.

He likes what he sees at the club he loves and hopes Bielsa gets the end result his revolution deserves.

“They’re fantastic under Bielsa, the work rate, what he’s done with that group of players, from where they were what he’s achieved with them – you have to give him so much credit.

“The young kids he’s brought through, it was brave to put them in, but it didn’t matter what age they were, you’re in son, you’re good enough.

“His way of playing, his attacking, his closing down as a team, I think they’re fantastic, I love watching them.

“It’s still a sleeping giant at the moment, it should be in the Premier and they’ve got to earn it. When they do, it’ll be a great achievement for everybody connected with the club and it’ll be great to see them back there.

“I thought they’d go up automatically [last season].

“I’m hoping. We say it every year, every year before the ball has been kicked we say let’s hope it’s our year. I hope it is.

“Bielsa and his staff, they’ve worked hard for it and hopefully they can get them to where they should be.”