Leeds United needed to 'evolve' from Marcelo Bielsa says official after Jesse Marsch decision - YEP 10/3/22
Angus Kinnear says Leeds United knew they needed to 'evolve' from Marcelo Bielsa's managerial reign this summer, before accelerating plans to bring in Jesse Marsch.
By Graham Smyth
The CEO, writing in his programme notes for the game against
Aston Villa, says the club's attempts to put in place a succession strategy was
'well advanced' and Jesse Marsch was identified as the man for the job.
Leeds sacked Bielsa on February 27 and announced Marsch as
their new head coach a day later.
"Knowing the requirement to evolve from Marcelo at the
end of the season meant the process to identify and secure a successor was
on-going and well advanced," said Kinnear.
"Our task was primarily to find a coach who shared the
same fundamental footballing ideology. This is one based on always being the
tactical protagonist, out-running the opposition, placing a premium on scoring
goals over simply preventing them - all while having a parallel focus on
developing youth. This needed to be allied with the cultural qualities of
integrity, endeavour and ambition that would fit with our club and supporters.
"Jesse Marsch was the outstanding candidate and the
unanimous first choice."
Kinnear lauded the American's 'courage' for taking the job
early despite the club being locked in a Premier League relegation battle and
insists the club see him as the man to take them forward for the next three
years.
"We have absolute confidence in Jesse for the remainder
of this campaign and for the next three years," said the chief executive.
"We believe he is the man to continue our aggressive
trajectory. I know that supporters will ultimately be impressed by not only
what he delivers on the pitch, but how he represents the club off it."
As for Bielsa, Kinnear paid tribute to the Argentine's
'cultural revolution' at Elland Road and lamented his era did not end in a more
fitting manner.
"Everyone at the club wanted Marcelo's reign to
culminate in an Elland Road farewell that was befitting of his achievements,
but sadly football often fails to follow the script," said Kinnear.
"Whether supporters agree or disagree with the
acceleration of the coaching transition, what cannot be questioned is that the
best way to honour and protect Marcelo's legacy is to cherish and perpetuate
the unity that he inspired and build on the solid foundations that he created.
It is this that will give us every chance of fulfilling our collective ambition
to make Leeds United great again."