Marcelo Bielsa’s first Leeds United starting line and where they are now

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Prior to Marcelo Bielsa’s arrival in West Yorkshire, Leeds United fans had become all too accustomed to false dawns.

Whether it was promises from new owners, the arrival of new signings or high-profile managers taking the helm, the club’s wait to return to the top flight continued regardless.

Chairman Andrea Radrizzani took a huge swing in appointing Bielsa – who this weekend broke a South American World Cup record – in the summer of 2018 and it didn’t take long for the former Argentina boss to win over the Leeds fans.

The opening weekend of the 2018/19 Championship campaign saw Leeds put in a breathtaking performance as pre-season favourites Stoke City were swept aside 3-1 at Elland Road. Here’s a look at where Bielsa’s first starting XI is now.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell

The Thorp Arch graduate began the season as Leeds’ number one but lost his place to January signing Kiko Casilla. A move to Burnley followed in the summer of 2019, but he would make a handful of appearances for the Clarets and spent the 2021-22 season in League One with Sheffield Wednesday.

The Northern Ireland international linked up with former Leeds boss Uwe Rosler for a loan spell at AGF Aarhus last season before joining Birmingham City in a permanent deal in the summer. After starting the season as Blues’ number one, he has been on the bench for their last six League One matches.

Luke Ayling

Luke Ayling played the best football of his career during Bielsa’s time in charge and was a key part of Leeds’ 2019/20 promotion-winning side before impressing in the Premier League.

Injuries, new signings and competition for places saw his minutes at Elland Road decline during the 2023/24 season, with the right-back moving to Middlesbrough on loan in January, with a permanent deal following in the summer. He has been a key player for Boro, starting all but one of their Championship games so far this term, often captaining the side in the absence of Jonny Howson.

Barry Douglas

Scottish left-back Douglas made his debut in the win over Stoke City and provided an assist as he looked to follow up his Championship title win with Wolves the season before with another promotion campaign.

Injuries meant Leeds never quite saw the best of Douglas at Elland Road and he was released at the end of his contract in May 2021. He then returned to former club Lech Poznan in Poland for three seasons and won the Polish league title. After being released in the summer, he last month signed as a free agent for Scottish side St Johnson.

Liam Cooper

Liam Cooper was a key player throughout the Bielsa era and would go on to complete ten seasons at Elland Road before the expiration of his contract in the summer.

The Scottish international completed a surprising move to Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia in September and has quickly established himself in the side, captaining the team in their last five matches.

Gaetano Berardi

The Swiss defender was a firm crowd favourite at Elland Road and played a significant role in their 2020 promotion before suffering a serious knee injury in Leeds’ penultimate game of that campaign. He was released at the end of his deal in the summer of 2021 and spent a year at Sion before announcing his retirement in May 2023. He then moved into coaching and is currently Brescia’s U17s manager.

Kalvin Phillips

Kalvin Phillips was another symbol of the Bielsa era at Leeds, with the Argentine building his team around the Leeds-born star. Phillips made an emotional departure in 2022, joining Manchester City, but would struggle to cement a place in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI. He is currently on loan at Premier League Ipswich Town.

Mateusz Klich

After being dismissed by Leeds’ last two managers, Mateusz Klich’s return to the Elland Road fold was another key narrative under Bielsa, with the Pole quickly becoming a cult favourite among the fans.

After an emotional farewell from the club in January 2023, the midfielder joined MLS side DC United, where he has been a regular for the past two seasons.

Samu Saiz

Spanish playmaker Saiz was an exciting, but ultimately frustrating player at Elland Road and it soon became clear that he was not up to task of Bielsa’s exacting methods.

Saiz left the club for Girona in 2019, spending three-and-a-half seasons there before joining Turkish side Sivasspor in January 2023 and then moving on to Eyupspor 12 months later, where he remains.

Ezgjan Alioski

Alioski was another important player during the high points of the Bielsa era, playing the best football of his career under the Argentine, while being described as a ‘bonkers’ teammate by Patrick Bamford.

He would sign for Saudi side Al-Ahli in the summer of 2021 after failing to agree a new contract with Leeds and spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Fenerbahce. He has been without a club since leaving Al-Ahli in the summer, but has continued to represent his country, winning his 76th cap for North Macedonia on Sunday.

Pablo Hernandez

Another iconic player of this era, with the veteran Spaniard often called upon to be the team’s creative inspiration, not least when he fired home the last-gasp goal at Swansea in 2020 that effectively secured promotion.

Hernandez said his Elland Road farewell in the summer of 2021 and went back to Spain, playing two seasons at his hometown club Castellon before hanging up his boots in 2023.

Kemar Roofe

Kemar Roofe enjoyed a productive 2018/19 season under Bielsa but was sold to Anderlecht on the eve of the following campaign. He would spend a year in Belgium under Vincent Kompany before moving to Rangers. He would struggle with injuries during his four years at Ibrox and the 31-year-old is currently without a club.