Gaetano Berardi has claimed working under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United influenced him to go into coaching.
Berardi was speaking in an interview with BBC West Yorkshire Sport, where he explained how he is hoping to take the things he learned from Bielsa into his own coaching role one day.
The 34-year-old confirmed he is set to begin his coaching badges in the coming weeks after calling time on his playing career earlier this week.
It was under Bielsa Berardi enjoyed the best period of his career, with the Argentine actually converting him into a centre back, something only he could’ve envisaged.
He made 157 appearances in total during his time at Leeds, 42 of which came when Bielsa was in charge, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2020.
Berardi on Bielsa influence
Although he has never managed at one of the top, top clubs, Bielsa is a figure idolised by many in the world of management.
The likes of Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino are all regarded as disciples of the 67-year-old, and he has inspired many of his former players to go into coaching, with Berardi set to be the next.
He said: “Of course he had a big influence on me. Like I said before, I feel lucky to get the opportunity to work with Marcelo at my age because at 25 I was not the same mentally.
“I feel lucky and I felt a big impact from him. I could see many, many things of how he works, how his staff worked so I could take many things with me to maybe put on my new job one day.”
Berardi is not the first Leeds player to admit working under Bielsa has prompted them to think about coaching, with Adam Forshaw having done the same a few years ago.
Bielsa is regarded as one of the most detailed coaches of all time and clearly he is able to pass a wealth of knowledge onto others, which they can then use themselves.
There is a reason he will forever be revered at Elland Road.
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