Marcelo Bielsa has left Leeds United fans in Malaysia astonished by making a surprise appearance following Uruguay’s game against the Dominican Republic.
Marcelo Bielsa took care of business in his day job with Uruguay, as an experimental side took on Junior Firpo’s Dominican Republic in a mini reunion.
Firpo made the eye-opening admission ahead of the game that Leeds’ players would have rather been relegated under Bielsa than seen him lose his job in the 2021/22 season, to highlight the esteem in which he is held at Elland Road.
Former Leeds left-back Firpo took time to meet Leeds fans in the ground after the game, signing autographs and posing for photos with his adoring public.
Now, Leeds fans have praised Bielsa for appearing at a meeting of the Leeds United Supporters Club in Malaysia.
Marcelo Bielsa praised for attending Leeds United fans meeting
Posting on the social media site X (formerly Twitter), Leeds United Supporters Club committee member JD Richards shared footage of Bielsa’s appearance, having interviewed the legendary former Leeds boss.
According to Richards, Bielsa still holds the Leeds fans in high esteem, as he stated: “I’m still in shock, if I’m honest. Tonight, I had the honour of interviewing Marcelo Bielsa, a man I hold in such high regard!
“It seems like he loves us a lot, too. Almost as much as Kalvin! Well done @LuscMalaysia, what a night. One to treasure forever.”
Bielsa’s appearance was greeted with a flood of positive responses from Leeds fans, as one fan wrote, “Bielsa will always be a giant amongst men. Bravo.”
Another fan stated their belief that Leeds is Bielsa’s spiritual home, adding: “He clearly loves Leeds nearly as much as his beloved Newells. We are his spiritual home. It’s time to rename a stand, build a statue or honour him properly in an everlasting way.”
One fan still remains scarred by Bielsa’s exit from Leeds, as they joked: “A unique man. I’ll never get over his departure!!!”
According to one fan, Bielsa changed the entire trajectory of Leeds history, arguing: “The thing I’ll always love about Marcelo is that fans of other clubs won’t ever get it.
“The guy completely changed the trajectory of our club from being a middling championship mess going nowhere, to what we have now…the greatest rollercoaster I’ve ever ridden that nigh on 4 years.”
This sentiment was echoed by another Leeds fan, who believes he is a true one-off in the club’s history, adding: “We will never see a man like him again.”
Bielsa makes a promise to Leeds United fans
Bielsa could be back in England sooner rather than later, with reports suggesting that Thomas Tuchel’s side could play Uruguay ahead of the next World Cup.
Speaking in one of the videos on Richards’ X (formerly Twitter) account, which is embedded above, Bielsa promised that there will always be a connection between himself and the club.
Richards praised Bielsa for helping to re-establish the connection between the club and the fan base and thanked him for his time at the club.
Bielsa’s translator responded: “He says, as you said, that he would like the connection between himself and Leeds, which has been alive throughout all his time, to never end.
“And if it depends on him, it won’t end, so he will always be connected in some way to the club.”
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