A broadcaster’s claim that Leeds United’s Marcelo Bielsa is the fourth best manager of all time has been questioned as “ludicrous” by journalist Phil Hay.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Drivetime programme on Tuesday evening, Adrian Durham heaped praise on Bielsa for the achievements of his distinguished career as he placed him near the top of his all-time list.
“My number four is Marcelo Bielsa, the Leeds United manager, I know you’re shaking your heads but thankfully this isn’t just about winning trophies,” said Durham on talkSPORT (5.41pm, Tuesday March 19th).
“It’s about top coaches which means we don’t judge solely on the silverware and what I love about him is, I was thinking about this before he got to Leeds, is that he is all consuming.
“It’s a holistic approach he has to coaching and he devotes his life to his work which wouldn’t work for everybody but it does for him, I think it absolutely amazing.”
Hay responded to Durham’s claim on his personal Twitter account by explaining he is a “huge fan” of the Argentine but “that’s somewhat ludicrous’.
needless to say I'm a huge fan of Bielsa but that's somewhat ludicrous ?
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) March 19, 2019
OPINION
Barely a day goes by without Durham making some ludicrous claim or another on his radio show. The shock jock loves to get attention with huge statements, often with little evidence to back them up. It’s a formula that appears to work well on talkSPORT, a commercial station that taps into its audience’s neverending thirst for football and all the drama and talking points that surround the game. Is Bielsa the fourth-best manager ever? Of course not. Despite the excellent and groundbreaking work he has done at clubs and countries in Europe and south America, he hasn’t won enough major trophies to be considered near the top of the tree of his profession. An outstanding coach who has laid the path for others to follow, and improve on? Definitely? One of the very best to ever pace around in a dugout? No. He would have to win the Premier League title at Leeds for him to be considered fourth best of all time.