Marcelo Bielsa has left Leeds United after nearly four years in charge.
The 66-year-old departs Elland Road on the back of a dismal run of form, that culminated in Saturday’s 4-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur, which has left the Whites just two points above the relegation zone.
Over his 170 games in charge, the Argentine oversaw a stunning 81 victories as his side won the EFL Championship in 2020 and finished in an unprecedented ninth place during the 2020/21 Premier League season.
Here, Leeds Live have picked out Marcelo Bielsa’s five greatest Leeds United wins and explain what makes each of them so special.
3-1 vs Stoke City, August 2018
Despite his reputation, Bielsa was not expected to win his first game in charge of Leeds as he faced Stoke, who had just been relegated from the Premier League and were strong favourites to win the Championship.
In the end however, the Whites’ pressing, and high intensity shocked the Potters, with goals from Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez in the first half impressing a jubilant Elland Road.
Stoke pulled one back after the break thanks to a Benik Afobe penalty, but Liam Cooper scored from a corner minutes later to re-establish Leeds’ control and secure Bielsa a memorable maiden win at his new club.
4-0 vs West Bromwich Albion, March 2019
While not the biggest win Bielsa achieved against the Baggies, that being a 5-0 thrashing in December 2020, this victory was far more memorable thanks to the opening goal.
Within the opening 16 seconds, Leeds won possession from the away side’s kick-off before Jack Harrison found Pablo Hernandez who in turn struck the back of the net.
A Patrick Bamford brace and an injury time goal from Ezgjan Alioski completed the rout against fellow promotion hopefuls West Brom, which moved Leeds back to the top of the Championship table following a poor run of five defeats in 10 games.
While the Whites would painfully miss out on promotion that season, performances like this captured the spirit that Bielsa had installed into the club.
3-0 vs Fulham, June 2020
Prior to COVID-19 suspending all football, Leeds were top of the Championship but the memories of the previous season’s capitulation were still fresh.
Months later, when the campaign resumed, defeat at Cardiff City reignited the fear of missing out on promotion yet again, but Bielsa and his side weren’t going to let that happen.
Goals from Bamford, Alioski and Harrison saw off fellow promotion challengers Fulham and set up an eight-game unbeaten run, which included six straight wins, that won the Championship title and allowed Leeds to return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.
3-1 vs Leicester City, January 2021
One of Bielsa’s great strengths at Leeds was his ability to improve individuals and elevate average players into game-changers.
Amongst the success stories was Bamford who scored one and set up two as the Whites came from behind to beat a high-flying Leicester side at the King Power Stadium.
Harvey Barnes had given the Foxes an early lead, before goals from Stuart Dallas, Bamford and Harrison completed a remarkable comeback in an end-to-end game that featured all the thrills and spills associated with Bielsa-ball.
There was only one drawback from the result – as Bamford hilariously revealed post-match, the striker hadn’t captained himself on fantasy football.
2-1 vs Manchester City, April 2021
There were many impressive wins in Bielsa’s first Premier League campaign but none more so than the victory against eventual title winners Manchester City.
Bielsa went up against Pep Guardiola, whose City side had lost just one of their last 23 Premier League games, but in spite of the Citizens’ dominance Leeds took the lead courtesy of Dallas.
Disaster struck just before the break however, when skipper Cooper received a straight red card for a foul on Gabriel Jesus and Bielsa’s side had to courageously withstand City’s second-half barrage.
Ferran Torres struck late to seemingly rescue a point for the home side, but a heroic through ball from Alioski allowed Dallas to slip through the opposing defence and score an injury time winner, in what many have described as Bielsa’s finest game in charge of Leeds.
