Leeds United: Club unlikely to reappoint Marcelo Bielsa

Leeds United are unlikely to reappoint former manager Marcelo Bielsa if the club sack Jesse Marsch in the next few weeks.

That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking to This is Futbol about the latest news at Elland Road.

Following the side’s 3-2 defeat home to Fulham last weekend, Leeds had slipped into the Premier League relegation zone, with the pressure beginning to build on Marsch.

But a stunning win away to Liverpool on Saturday may now have relieved some of that pressure as the Whites managed to pull themselves out of the drop zone and into 15th spot.

The American head coach replaced Bielsa in March after the Argentine manager was relieved of his duties with the club in relegation danger last season.

And O’Rourke, speaking prior to the weekend’s result, believes that despite the Leeds fans’ love for their former manager, he won’t be taking the reins at Elland Road if Marsch is sacked. 

He said: “There’s a strong love and link for the club for Marcelo Bielsa, mainly with the club’s fans – as you said, still chanting his name. That’s how much he’s revered at Elland Road.

“He did an unbelievable job when he did take over there, getting them to the promised land of the Premier League.

“But I think now that ship has sailed.”

TIF Thoughts on O’Rourke’s comments…

We agree with O’Rourke and believe that the chances of Bielsa coming back to Leeds are incredibly slim, especially with the club in a precarious position in the league.

We cannot see a circumstance in which the Argentine manager thinks it’s a good idea to return to Elland Road and risk tarnishing his legacy if he is to send the club down.

Therefore, it seems unreasonable to suggest that Bielsa will currently be on a list of manager targets drawn up by the Leeds board to replace Marsch if the American is to be let go, though perhaps their victory at Anfield will have bought their current boss more time from the board.