George Overhill

Thu 3 March 2022 9:40, UK

There are more than 9,000 tributes to Marcelo Bielsa from Leeds United fans that are due to be turned into a book, according to Henry Winter.

The hugely-popular Argentine was removed from his job last weekend due to the terrible downturn in form that has seen the club drop to just two points above the relegation zone, and was quickly replaced by American Jesse Marsch.

Despite recent results, the outgoing boss holds a special place in the hearts of many Whites fans, and the Supporters’ Trust quickly set up a platform for the supporters to post messages for the 66-year-old.

The Times‘ chief football writer Winter shared on his personal Twitter account: “More than 9,000 messages of thanks to Marcelo Bielsa and stories about him submitted by [Leeds] fans.

“Trust plans to turn this into a book to share with Bielsa. “He deserves to know how much he means to us.””

Special bond

In the day-to-day goings on of the football world, everything is about results and form, injuries and signings.

But when we all look back on times past it is easier to get a feeling of which parts of the game leave an impact.

Leeds fans are being forced to consider the Bielsa era in its entirety now that it has come to an end.

And such was the nature of his unique relationship with the club and its fans, his importance and the impact on their lives were more evident at the time than with most.

So the level of emotion that has seen the thousands of posts made on the Supporters’ Trust platform does not come as a shock.

After a turbulent decade and a half that saw the club drop from a Champions League semi-final to the third tier of English football, the manager came in and installed an identity that the city identified with.

He ultimately brought about United’s long-awaited return to the Premier League and would have had a job for life in the eyes of plenty.

In other Leeds United news, two pundits made a crazy suggestion for the next managerial hire which Rio Ferdinand scoffed at.