Marcelo Bielsa influence on new Everton signing revevaled after what he did at Leeds
Marcelo Bielsa is still an individual who is regularly spoken of in glowing terms by many at Leeds United.
Still very often given a hero’s mention by those at Elland Road, the promotion-winning manager of 2020 is also described as a guru of the game by those who have been fortunate enough to work under him.
One new signing in the Premier League, a compatriot of Bielsa’s but who has not yet crossed paths with him in his career, has even spoken of the influence of the great man upon arriving in England.
Everton signing credits Bielsa for teammate bond
Everton are currently ensuring they remain in the Premier League under returning manager David Moyes, while Leeds United hope to join them next season.
The Toffees signed Carlos Alcaraz on loan from Flamengo and the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has already made waves at Goodison Park.
Alcaraz, speaking to The Times, has revealed his close relationship with Jack Harrison, who is on loan at Everton from Leeds for the second successive year; the Whites loanee not only speaks an advanced level of Spanish, but has also taken some Argentine culture from his time under Bielsa which benefits Alcaraz.
“Everyone has helped me, but the first person I came across because of his great Spanish was Jack,” the Everton man explained, with Harrison seen last week acting as translator for Alcaraz’s post-match interview after he had scored their winning goal against Crystal Palace (15 February).
“We spend all the time together on and off the field and in training. We even share the odd maté [herbal tea] together.
“I didn’t introduce him to it. When he was at Leeds, he played under [fellow Argentine Marcelo] Bielsa and the backroom staff there, so he was used to having maté. It is just that I have got him back on it now.”
Leeds loanee keeps Bielsa influence close
It’s incredibly heart-warming to see how Harrison’s time playing under Bielsa has continued into a butterfly effect in helping Alcaraz settle at Everton.
The winger’s future is so far unclear under Farke, who currently has an array of superbly-performing attacking players who are taking the Championship by storm including Leeds United’s talisman Dan James, as well as the likes of Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe.
With promotion a non-negotiable this year, the sole focus of Daniel Farke, the team and the backroom staff is to ensure a place alongside Everton in the Premier League for 2025-26.
Loans manager Andrew Taylor will be keeping check on Harrison at Goodison Park – he has not always enjoyed the most fruitful of times this season, but it’s excellent to see how much of a positive influence he has been on a young teammate.
Alcaraz is returning to England having previously spent a year with Southampton, joining Everton on loan from Flamengo in Brazil, and it appears Harrison’s Toffees are reaping the rewards of some indirect genius from Bielsa.
The man simply never stops.