Liam Cooper and Marcelo Bielsa was a match made in heaven at Leeds United as the pair were pivotal to the Whites’ Premier League promotion.
Both were saints at the club, as Cooper and Bielsa are held in high regard around Elland Road.
Leeds fans would take both back in a heartbeat, despite their success this season under Daniel Farke.
This is fair in some sense, as Farke has a long way to go before emulating Bielsa’s efforts.
But what the former Leeds captain and the Argentine had was special. Cooper admitted Bielsa changed the culture at Leeds, and the Scotsman has revealed a lot more to his astonishing nature.
Liam Cooper shares Marcelo Bielsa pre-match ritual at Leeds United
Cooper and Leeds were ‘amazed’ by Bielsa as soon as he stepped through the door at Thorp Arch.
It comes as no surprise why the Leeds faithful hold Bielsa in such high regard after the atmosphere he brought to the club.
But Cooper has now shared what the former Leeds boss did that he’d ‘never seen’.
Speaking to MailOnline, Cooper talked about how Bielsa did something special before matches and how the pairing still remain in contact.
“He galvanised the whole club and took us from being mediocre to top half of the Premier League. We became fearless,” said Cooper.
“Our Championship team that won promotion wasn’t the best squad, but we’d take it to teams and fight to the end.
“Before games, the manager would predict exactly how things would pan out. I’d never seen anything like it, before or since.
“I played the best football of my career under Bielsa. I still wish him happy birthday every year and receive the occasional voice note, in English!”
READ MORE: Former Leeds United captain Liam Cooper makes incredible prediction about Raphinha
Farke has his own bond at Leeds which emulates Cooper and Bielsa
It will be difficult to replicate what Cooper and Bielsa did for Leeds, but Farke certainly has the right tools to make it happen.
The Whites squad is impressing after 17 games unbeaten and have all the right attributes to compete in the Premier League, potentially longer than Bielsa’s Leeds did.
Cooper compared Farke to Bielsa as the two do share similarities in some ways, one through their management style but another through the Argentine’s bond with his players.
Leeds have been waiting for a centre-back bond with the manager, but now Farke shares that with Joe Rodon.
The Welsh centre-back could certainly emulate Cooper with the way he’s going, as Farke loves Rodon.
If promotion is secured this season, some fans will certainly see shades of Cooper and Bielsa in Farke and Rodon’s brilliant relationship.
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