Former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has insisted he is not among the world’s ‘best coaches’ as he has never coached one of the top teams.
Bielsa was speaking in his first press conference after being appointed as the new manager of the Uruguay national team, which can be see in full on AUFTV.
Uruguay is his first job following his sacking by Leeds in February last year, with his three-and-a-half-year stay at Elland Road the longest he has stayed at any club side.
Bielsa will take charge of his first camp next month, as Uruguay face friendlies against Nicaragua and Cuba.
The 67-year-old has signed a contract until the end of the 2026 World Cup, the second of two major tournaments he could manage at with the 2024 Copa America set to take place in the United States.
Bielsa insists he is not among the world’s best
Leeds supporters grew accustomed to Bielsa’s humility during his time at the club and this is just another example of that.
That said, he is also not wrong in what he says, with Bielsa having managed the likes of Marseille, Athletic Bilbao, Lazio, Lille and of course Leeds while in Europe, who aren’t among the continent’s very elite.
He said: “In the world of football there are 20 great teams. I never coached them and they never offered [the job] to me.
“How could I be one of the best coaches in the world if I didn’t coach any? It’s impossible.”
Ultimately, there is more to managing than just trophies and the legacy he left behind at Elland Road is something that has not been seen for a very long time.
Bielsa has inspired many top coaches around the world including Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino and you don’t do that without being elite at what you do.