The Argentine’s reputation has always preceded him, and his nickname ‘El Loco’ – or ‘The Crazy One’ – is well-earned.
Renowned for his meticulous preparatory work and his punishing training methods, Bielsa was regarded as one of a kind even before he took the top job at Elland Road.
But even factoring in all of his previous quirks and idiosyncrasies, few fans could have foreseen the transformative, and oftentimes bizarre, tenure that he has gone on to have in Yorkshire.
From nine-goal thrillers, to espionage scandals, to buckets with cult-like status, Bielsa’s time with the Whites has had just about everything.
The 65-year-old took charge of his 100th game at the club on Saturday against Crystal Palace, and we’ve looked back over his first century to countdown 13 of the most weird, and wonderful, details:
1. The Great Yorkshire Show
Bielsa wasted little time in getting to know his new surroundings when he first arrived in England back in 2018. In his very first press conference, the boss revealed that he had paid a visit to the Great Yorkshire Show to get a feel for the area. "I was well received by the fans," he said. "I visited a fair that gathered many expressions of Yorkshire. It was a big fair, we had about 60,000 people, and this allowed me to get to know the region. In Argentina I live in the countryside and there are many similarities in Yorkshire to the region I’m from." (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Photo: Michael Regan
2. The Training Ground Log Burner
As well as going out of his way to get to know the locals, Bielsa also insisted on making several modifications to Thorp Arch upon his arrival. Among these were the installations of several beds so that players could rest between training sessions, a new relaxation area complete with pool table and Playstations, and perhaps most interesting of all, a log burner that he hoped his squad would take turns maintaining. (Photo by Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty Images) Photo: Pool
3. The Rise of Murderball
As strange as it may be to think about, there was once a time when none of us had heard of Bielsa's uniquely punishing training ground game. Like football, but with no interruptions or breaks in play and a insistence on running at all times, Murderball - as players have affectionately come to call it - is often credited with being the reason for the Whites' superlative fitness levels. (Photo by MATTHEW CHILDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Photo: MATTHEW CHILDS
4. The Iconic Tracksuit and the Centenary Dinner
Bielsa is clearly a man who prioritises practicality at all times, and whether it be prowling the dugout or pushing a trolley round Morrison's, it's a rarity to ever see him kitted out in anything other than his trusty club tracksuit. In fact, Bielsa is so fond of the ensemble that he even turned up to Leeds' centenary dinner in 2019 wearing a pair of joggers and a pullover. Typical brilliant, typically Bielsa. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) Photo: Naomi Baker
5. The Bielsa Bucket
Again, it's hard to imagine things any other way now, but when Bielsa first turned up at Leeds with his trusty blue bucket, more than a few eyebrows were raised. Perched atop his bizarre seat all game long, the Argentine made for quite the site in the dugout, and it wasn't long before the club were selling replicas to enamoured supporters. Pleasingly, the bucket made it's Premier League debut against Liverpool on the opening day of this season. (Photo by Paul Ellis - Pool/Getty Images) Photo: Pool
6. The Ayling Wonder Goal
Not a moment involving Bielsa himself necessarily, but you'd struggle to find a better goal from the manager's first century of matches than Luke Ayling's thunderous volley against Huddersfield Town last season. Struck sweetly and made even sweeter by the full-back's glorious celebration, this was a special moment that really encapsulated the beauty of Bielsa's tenure to date. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) Photo: George Wood