Marcelo Bielsa Former Head Coach

A look at former Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa, documenting his win percentages, career honours, and his tenure at Elland Road.

Tactical Identity

High-Intensity / Man-to-Man Marking

Tenure Duration

June 2018 — Feb 2022

Legacy

Championship Winners 19/20

Marcelo Bielsa: How ‘El Loco’ won the hearts of Leeds United

Marcelo Bielsa is almost a deity at Leeds United. Not just for the fact that his Championship-winning team of 2019-20 helped the Whites end a 16-year exile from the Premier League. It was the brand of football he had his team playing, the way he turned players from middling second-tier talents to elite top-flight performers, and the feeling he gave supporters every time they turned up to see their team play under his leadership. The veteran Argentinian is one of the most revered figures in world football. The many playfully known as ‘El Loco’ will be enshrined in Leeds United folklore forever more.

Marcelo Bielsa’s road to Leeds United

Bielsa’s path is well-trodden in the world of football, taking him across South and Central America, to LaLiga and Ligue 1, as well as several international roles. Following his spell at Leeds, he would return to international management with Uruguay.

Marcelo Bielsa | Managerial Record

Career Analysis up to and including Leeds United

Team	Tenure	P	W	D	L	Win %
Newell’s Old Boys	1990 – 1992	97	39	38	20	40.21
Atlas	1993 – 1995	77	29	20	28	37.66
América	1995 – 1996	33	10	14	9	30.30
Vélez Sarsfield	1997 – 1998	44	23	14	7	52.27
Espanyol	1998	12	3	3	6	25.00
Argentina	1998 – 2004	85	56	18	11	65.88
Chile	2007 – 2011	51	28	8	15	54.90
Athletic Bilbao	2011 – 2013	113	43	31	39	38.05
Marseille	2014 – 2015	41	21	7	13	51.22
Lille	2017	14	3	4	7	21.43
Leeds United	2018 – 2022	170	81	30	59	47.65
Combined Career Total		740	338	174	228	45.68%

*This table exclusively covers Marcelo Bielsa’s managerial record up to and including his tenure at Leeds United.

Marcelo Bielsa’s career achievements

It seems almost crude to judge Bielsa by any sort of trophy or award. Many luminaries acknowledge him as a footballing genius, and even greats such as Pep Guardiola recognise the impact he has had on his career. He has enjoyed plenty of success, but it his inate ability to have his teams playing such beautiful football that set him apart from his contemparies.

Achievement Portfolio