Although Marcelo Bielsa’s departure from Leeds United was some time ago, the supporters still mention him on a daily basis.
Leeds supporters will always look back on the years under Marcelo Bielsa’s leadership as some of the best to have supported the team in its history: 2018 to 2022.
The Argentine played some of the best football the nation has seen in that era, and he was the guy who eventually brought Premier League football back to Elland Road.
A famous character, his demeanor and approach brought out the best in a great deal of the Championship and top flight players.
Here, we examine the five players who, in our opinion, excelled at Elland Road under Bielsa’s direction.
First on the list is Mateusz Klich, a £1.5 million transfer from FC Twente a year ago who gave the manager’s Elland Road debut a beautifully struck goal that ignited the Bielsa reign.
Over the course of two seasons in the EFL under Bielsa’s direction, the Pole scored 16 goals and recorded 14 assists, playing a crucial role in Leeds’ Championship promotion run.
Klich, a prolific long-range scorer, was emblematic of Leeds’ period of success under Bielsa; the team had been struggling before the manager took over, but Klich was brought back to become one of the best midfield players in the Championship and for his nation.
Klich, who was adored by the supporters and an integral part of what Leeds accomplished under Bielsa, was one of the most important players in that system, thus it was heartbreaking to see him go in January 23.
Another player that personified the remarkable improvement in Elland Road performance was Kalvin Phillips, who was frequently chastised by the supporters before the Argentine coach took over.
But because to his exploits under Bielsa, Phillips soon began to demonstrate that he was destined for the top, taking center stage in the Leeds lineup. Every time Leeds played without him, his absence signaled trouble.
As Leeds returned to the Premier League, Phillips’ play reached a whole new level. He proved to the world how excellent he was at the club level and, quite rightly, on the international scene, winning over Gareth Southgate and leading his team to a heartbreaking defeat in the Euro 2020 final.
As he gave the Yorkshire Pirlo a warm embrace in front of the team during promotion celebrations in the East Stand, Bielsa remarked, “The best, Kalvin.”
Raphinha, who has been lighting up the field with every touch since making his debut in the 2020–21 campaign, is arguably the best real player to play under Bielsa.
Few Leeds supporters have had the opportunity to experience Brazilian flair; those that do rarely arrive at Elland Road can hardly be called famous for their skills.
But Raphinha was the genuine deal. Along with scoring one incredible goal after another and all but terminating Gary Cahill’s Premier League career with an unbelievable nutmeg, he was a key member of the team that finished ninth in the standings in 2020–2021.
Raphinha was only a Leeds player for two years, but it was an incredible feat to retain him in West Yorkshire for that long considering how excellent he was and how unlikely it was that he wasn’t playing at the highest level.
After shining in the team that finished in the top half, he carried Leeds to survival on his own in 21/22. He then left for Barcelona, where he is already establishing himself as a favorite by wearing the armband at Camp Nou.
It is quite difficult to find players like him, especially for £17 million, and under Bielsa he was really impressive.
The reason Bielsa is considered Leeds’ equivalent of Paul Madeley and Stuart Dallas’s success is because, despite having to play several positions throughout the season, he consistently turned up standout performances.
When the Northern Irishman was tested at left-back in the play-off semi-final against Derby, he was one of the greatest players on the field and scored two goals. That was the first real occasion we saw him go off.
Unfortunately, it was unable to avert heartbreak against Derby. However, he returned the next season, seemingly unstoppable, and never looked back as Leeds gained promotion.
He became the Fantasy Premier League’s top scorer in the Premier League while playing in midfield and yet being labeled as a defender, thanks to his goals and assists.
Bielsa’s greatest performance as a Leeds manager came in a stunning 2-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s team at Manchester City, when Dallas notched an iconic brace.
Leeds had great value for their money in Dallas, albeit his career was unjustly ended in 2022 by a horrific injury, even at a cost of £1.3 million.
Most people associate Pablo Hernandez’s skill and contributions to Leeds during the Bielsa period with the team’s success.
Although El Mago entered the Championship for free from Qatar, he was nevertheless, and at times very comfortably, the best player in the competition. Leeds was unfortunate to see him at the conclusion of his career.
The fact that the Spaniard scored 21 goals and provided 21 assists in just two seasons while in his mid-30s is testament to his skill as a player, but what really made him enjoyable to watch was the caliber of his chance creation.
Taking games by storm, he virtually carried Leeds to promotion back to the Premier League during lockout. He started several games as a substitute and simply ran the show without actually breaking into a sprint.
An authentic folklore from Leeds.