Leeds United part company with head coach Marcelo Bielsa - The Athletic 27/2/22

By David Ornstein and Phil Hay

Leeds United have parted company with head coach Marcelo Bielsa after almost four years in charge.

The Athletic reported on Saturday afternoon that there was serious uncertainty over Bielsa’s future, with Jesse Marsch the leading candidate to replace him.

Saturday's 4-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur was the club's fifth defeat in their last six Premier League fixtures.

They are 16th in the table, two points clear of the relegation zone, but have played two more games than 18th place Burnley, and three more than Everton in 17th.

The Athletic understands Bielsa’s position has been under heightened consideration since a heavy 6-0 loss at Liverpool on Wednesday, and Leeds were again a distant second best on Saturday.

Kalvin Phillips posted a thank you on Twitter. He said: “Thank you Marcelo for everything you have done for me. You saw in me what I didn’t even see in myself. You helped me grow as a player but most importantly as a person. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter.”

Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani said: “This has been the toughest decision I have had to make during my tenure at Leeds United, taking into account all the success Marcelo has had at the club.

“With Marcelo as our head coach, we had three incredible campaigns and the good times returned to Elland Road. He changed the culture of the club and brought a winning mentality to us all. The moments created, particularly in the 2019/20 season and winning promotion to the Premier League, will of course live long in all our memories, myself and the fans included.

“However, I have to act in the best interest of the club and I believe a change is required now in order to secure our Premier League status. Recent results and performances have not met our expectations.

“We find ourselves in a precarious league position and I feel now is the right time to bring in a new head coach, in order to have an impact in the decisive stage of the season.

“Naturally, myself, along with everyone else at the club would like to thank Marcelo for his efforts and achievements and we wish him the very best for the future.”

He replaced Paul Heckingbottom as Leeds head coach in June 2018 and led the club back into the Premier League after 16 years away in his second season at Elland Road.

Leeds impressed in the Premier League last season, finishing ninth. However, they have won just five league matches this time around, picking up one point from their past six matches.

Why are Leeds turning to Jesse Marsch?

Marsch is the strong favourite to take over from Bielsa.

A former United States international, Marsch previously managed MLS sides Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls. He moved to Red Bull Salzburg in 2019 and led the Austrian club to a league and cup double in two consecutive seasons.

He was then appointed by RB Leipzig to replace Julian Nagelsmann last summer — but was sacked after just four months in charge having won just five games out of 14 this season.

The American remains highly rated within the game, however, and Leeds hope he will lead them up the Premier League table and away from trouble.

How are Leeds fans likely to react to today’s news?

AMITAI WINEHOUSE, NEWS EDITOR: The reaction will be divided. There has been a growing frustration with Bielsa throughout the season, but he retained the support of many.

Leeds are navigating a particularly tricky spell in their season. Losses to Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham might have stung, but no one expected them to get much out of those matches. They now have some significantly more winnable games on the horizon, starting with fixtures against Leicester and Norwich.

Bielsa’s contract is up at the end of the season and the vast majority of Leeds fans would have liked him to see out the season. There are still those who would back him to continue in the role beyond the summer too.

Overall, this will come as a very sad moment for all those who support Leeds. Bielsa became an almost messianic figure in West Yorkshire. He took Leeds from Championship also-rans back to the Premier League promised land, playing a brilliant style of football in the process. Leeds fans were stuck in a nightmare before he arrived – he let them dream again.

Now the onus will be on the club’s hierarchy to support the next manager more than they did Bielsa. Even though Bielsa made footballing mistakes on a week to week basis, the bigger issue is the lack of backing they gave him in the transfer market.

Even a miracle worker can only change water into wine for so long.