Marcelo Bielsa has transformed himself into a cult figure at Leeds United.
The charismatic tactician extraordinaire hailing from Rosario, Argentina has found a new niche for himself in Yorkshire, England – a country where he had never managed before he took the reins at Leeds United in 2018.
Bielsa has evolved the sleeping giants of English football in his tenure at the club so far, bringing them back into the Premier League after an absence of 16 long years.
The promotion to the top flight has not been all that Bielsa has done – Leeds have held their own against heavyweights who have been in the division for years, and have played a brand of tireless, attacking football which has been considered synonymous with the West Yorkshire outfit since Bielsa’s arrival.
El Loco’s hallowed status in Yorkshire was confirmed when a picture of a Marcelo Bielsa mural in Menston, a village located around twenty kilometres from the city of Leeds.
The picture of the mural went viral on social media, as the Leeds United faithful proudly celebrated the Argentine’s cult status at their club.
Bielsa is appearing everywhere these days…almost like we love him! Stolen from Bakefook, somewhere near Menston!?! Looks great though…😁#lufc #bielsa pic.twitter.com/wtUxMESrfO
— D-SKi McB-SKi 💙💛RIP@WACCOE🏆 (@dskimcbski) February 20, 2021
Mural de Marcelo Bielsa en el pueblito Menston, a veinte kilómetros de Leeds.
— Andrea D’Emilio (@anyudemilio) February 20, 2021
📷 Stephen Acarregui Campbell. pic.twitter.com/QhPRwNXC2i
#bielsa spotted in Burley in Wharfedale, this morning. Brilliant job. Burnley fan living in Menston but hats off to the guy: done an incredible job for #lufc pic.twitter.com/URQiqBXxFJ
— John Robertson (@claretcrumpet) February 19, 2021
Bielsa currently has Leeds sitting at 12th place on the Premier League table, having registered 32 points from their 24 games played. Despite the gap between Leeds and the automatic relegation spots amounting to 10 points at the moment, the very entertaining Leeds are favourites to retain their top-flight status and stay up in the Premier League for another season to come.
And if they indeed do confirm their stay in the top flight, Bielsa’s sky-high reputation amongst Leeds supporters will rightfully reach another level altogether – even overshadowing the current cult figure that he presently is to the Yorkshire club’s faithful.
