Leeds United throwback - Marcelo Bielsa shocks football world to take Elland Road hotseat

Marcelo Bielsa celebrated two years in charge at Elland Road earlier this week.
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. (Bruce Rollinson)Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. (Bruce Rollinson)
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. (Bruce Rollinson)

The day...

June 15, 2018

The background...

Marcelo Bielsa celebrated his two-year anniversary at Leeds United on Monday and his impact at Elland Road has been swift.

The Argentine replaced outgoing manager Paul Heckingbottom and transformed United from Championship mid-table strugglers to promotion contenders over the course of a single pre-season.

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In a debut campaign in West Yorkshire that featured Spygate and a FIFA Fair Play award with controversy never far from the Argentine’s presence, Bielsa took the Whites to the brink of Premier League football for the first time since the club’s relegation in 2004.

United suffered a play-off defeat to Derby County last May following a late season collapse of results but returned with a point to prove this time around.

After committing to another year with Leeds to right his wrongs, Bielsa guided his team to top of the table before the coronavirus pandemic saw their quest for top-flight football put on hold in mid-March.

Now, after a three-month hiatus, the world-renowned head coach is plotting a nine game course to end 16 seasons of hurt for the Elland Road faithful and return the club to where many believe they rightfully belong.