Joe Cole knew his verdict on Marcelo Bielsa would anger Leeds United supporters, but the former Chelsea midfielder has still got the Argentine completely wrong.
While Bielsa’s trophy haul does not match football’s serial winners, reducing his reputation to a “myth” ignores one of the most remarkable managerial jobs English football has witnessed in recent decades.
Bielsa arrived in 2018 and inherited a club that had spent a 16-year exile from the Premier League. Two years later, he guided Leeds to the Championship title, back to the top flight for the first time since 2004.
What is your favourite memory of the Marcelo Bielsa era? Let us know in the comments 🙌
The achievement becomes even more impressive when considering the squad he inherited. Bielsa built his success around players such as Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford.
Those players were widely viewed as solid Championship performers before Bielsa arrived. Under his coaching, they became part of one of the most exciting and effective teams, finishing ninth in 2020-21.
Joe Cole knew Leeds fans would not agree with his verdict
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Cole delivered a damning assessment of Bielsa’s reputation: “I think he’s a myth. I’ve done my homework; he’s been managing for over 30 years. He’s won three Argentinian titles.
“He won the Olympics but that’s a youth tournament, and won the Championship with Leeds. Leeds fans won’t be happy; I have no plans on going there any time soon. Guardiola has given him the big write up.
“Pep says ‘oh he’s the God’. For me, he sits on a bucket and doesn’t do much else. Three titles in 30 years, not for me. A massive reputation but he’s never done a sustained period where he’s a proper manager.”
Cole is entitled to question Bielsa’s trophy record. What he overlooks is that Leeds supporters do not judge Bielsa solely on medals. They judge him on the fact he transformed the club’s fortunes.
A restored belief around Elland Road and delivered achievements that many fans feared they would never see again, a renewed connection between club and supporters; changing the entire city of Leeds.
Murderball, litter-picking and sleeping at Thorp Arch
Bielsa’s impact extended far beyond results. His infamous Murderball training sessions became legendary among players because of their intensity and attention to detail.
He also famously asked players to pick up litter after learning how much Leeds supporters spent following the club. The exercise was designed to teach players respect for the sacrifices fans make.
Bielsa’s commitment was equally extraordinary away from the training pitch. During Leeds’ promotion campaign, he effectively lived at Thorp Arch as he immersed himself in analysis and preparation.
Those stories are not mythology. They are part of the reason Bielsa remains one of the most respected figures in Leeds’ modern history.
Pep Guardiola’s verdict tells a very different story
Cole referenced Guardiola’s admiration for Bielsa, but the Manchester City manager’s comments highlight why so many elite coaches rate the Argentine so highly. He told Man City’s website:
“He’s probably the person I admire the most in world football as a manager and as a person. My teams won more titles than him, but in terms of knowledge of the game, I am away from him,” he added.
Besides Bielsa, who is YOUR favourite Leeds manager from the last decade? 🤔
- Uwe Rosler
- Steve Evans
- Garry Monk
- Thomas Christiansen
- Paul Heckingbottom
- Marcelo Bielsa
- Jesse Marsch
- Javi Gracia
- Sam Allardyce
- Daniel Farke
That respect is not based on sentiment. It is based on Bielsa’s influence on players, coaches and football culture across spells with Newell’s Old Boys, Argentina, Chile, Athletic Club and Leeds.
Cole’s criticism carries some weight because Bielsa’s current Uruguay side have faced growing scrutiny, including the World Cup draw against Saudi Arabia. Questions about his recent results are fair.
What is not fair is dismissing his reputation as a myth. Leeds fans regard Bielsa as a legend because he transformed their club, elevated ordinary players into top-flight performers and delivered one of the most memorable periods in the club’s modern history.
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