Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure as Leeds United manager is memorable for all those who were able to watch it at Elland Road.
With his intense pressing and man-marking style, “El Loco” quickly won over the hearts and minds of the faithful fans.
Leeds supporters flocked in their droves to watch a team that had been condemned to League One and Championship football finally hit their stride again.
Elland Road has been graced with plenty of trophies over the years, winning three First Division titles, along with an FA Cup and a League Cup.
A sleeping giant, Leeds had finally been awoken by Bielsa.
The first campaign saw plenty of success but ultimately, the side narrowly missed out on automatic promotion and then fell apart in the play-offs.
Fast forward one year and that heartbreak turned to ecstasy as Leeds booked their place back into the Premier League with a promotion that many will remember.
Much like his players’ running, Bielsa wouldn’t stop there as the return to the top flight had his team take the league by storm.
A top-half finish would be the peak of that era, before eventual relegation concerns and an exit the following season.
Marcelo Bielsa broke key rule for Leeds star Raphinha
Many who have watched Bielsa, be it his football or his press conferences, know that he has some very clear and defined principles that he sticks by.
The style of play is all or nothing, while his own demeanour isn’t that of a manager taking the spotlight for himself, but rather a teacher.
Being in that position, Bielsa has stated that he doesn’t like to single out players in certain ways, avoiding the chance of creating divisions or hierarchies.
Speaking in a Sky Sports question and answer session in 2021, the Leeds boss said: “Normally I don’t like to make individual references that create hierarchies between the players in the team,” when asked which player he has developed the best.
While that seems to be the end of it, the manager did break this rule once in his time at Leeds.
That was for former winger Raphinha, who had been a revelation to the side after he made the move from Rennes.
In 2022, the Brazilian was in contract talks with the club, to which Bielsa said in a press conference: “Raphinha’s the best player in the team in all the senses.
“Physically, he’s the best. Technically, he’s at the level of the best and his interpretation of the game is very wise.
“Within the group of such a powerful nation as Brazil, he shines in the Premier League and he has the attention of all the big clubs in the world.
“All of those things are something you guys know as well. Nothing new. As a result, the decision of the club can only be valued.”
It perhaps shows just how good, or how important, Raphinha was at Leeds during this time before he departed for Barcelona.
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