Leeds United have announced that they have parted company with head coach Marcelo Bielsa, after nearly four years at Elland Road.
The 66-year-old was relieved of his duties on Sunday morning, after four straight Premier League defeats in which the Whites conceded 17 goals.
Bielsa oversaw 81 victories, 30 draws and 59 defeats in 170 games in charge of Leeds and has left the club hovering just two points above the relegation zone.
There were plenty of highs and lows for Bielsa during his reign in West Yorkshire, mostly highs which Leeds supporters are immensely grateful for, and here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at his memorable time in the Elland Road dugout.
2018-19: Championship playoff heartache
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Replacing Paul Heckingbottom in June 2018, Bielsa arrived at Elland Road with an eclectic CV and as one of the most influential managers in world football, who was admired by many within the managerial circuit, including Pep Guardiola and compatriot Mauricio Pochettino.
Leeds had previously been languishing in mid-table in the Championship with no realistic hopes of promotion, but Bielsa immediately stamped his authority on the club, with minimal resources at his disposal, and transformed seemingly average second-tier players into performers worthy of playing in the top tier.
In a campaign which will be remembered for 'spygate', after Bielsa sent scouts to Derby County's training ground in the build-up to their league fixture against the Rams, Leeds narrowly missed out on automatic promotion and finished third, winning 25 games and accumulating 83 points – their highest total since returning to the second tier in 2010.
An injury-hit Leeds side then faced Frank Lampard's Derby in the playoffs, and despite winning the first leg 1-0 at Pride Park, they were beaten 4-2 on home soil in the return fixture, to end their hopes of promotion.
So near yet so far for Bielsa's men, but such an entertaining, action-packed season was one Leeds fans were thrilled to witness, as they watched their side finally compete at the right end of the table whilst adopting an attractive, forward-thinking philosophy that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
2019-20: Promotion to the promised land
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Expectations were understandably raised the following campaign, and with impressive use of the loan market, recruiting the likes of Ben White, Jack Harrison and Illan Meslier, Leeds became a much stronger outfit, as they sought a second bite of the cherry in their quest to achieve promotion to the promised land.
Bielsa's boys were battling with West Bromwich Albion at the summit, with both teams level on 51 points at the halfway stage heading into the New Year. The coronavirus pandemic then halted proceedings in March before play resumed in June, with the Whites sitting at the top of the table and seven points clear of the playoffs.
A dramatic late winner from Pablo Hernandez against Swansea City put Leeds on the verge of automatic promotion on July 12, before West Brom's 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town five days later ended their long and painful 16-year exodus from the Premier League.
In a season which tragically saw club legends Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry all pass away, Bielsa masterminded Leeds' return to the top flight for the first time since 2004, securing promotion as champions with 93 points and finishing 10 points clear of the Baggies in second.
Bielsa's success was recognised when he was named LMA Manager of the Year in 2020, before signing a new contract to remain with Leeds on the eve of their first season back in the Premier League.
2020-21: A breath of fresh air in the Premier League
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Bielsa's Leeds side made quite an impact in the Premier League, starting in dramatic fashion with a 4-3 defeat on the opening day of the season at champions Liverpool, before winning by the same scoreline a week later in their first home game against Fulham.
Towards the end of October, Leeds rose to third place after Patrick Bamford's hat-trick helped secure a comfortable 3-0 win at Aston Villa. However, a disappointing run between November and mid-December saw Bielsa's men slip down the standings. While Leeds were one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the top flight, a lack of consistency prevented them from challenging higher up the table.
However, a strong finish to the campaign – accumulating 24 points from a possible 33 available, including victory in each of their final four games – pushed the Whites up to ninth place, 31 points clear of the relegation zone and just three points behind the European positions.
After contesting the majority of the 2020-21 season behind closed doors, due to COVID-19, Leeds were able to welcome 8,000 supporters to Elland Road for their final game of the season, beating West Brom 3-1 to cap a memorable Premier League campaign.
Stepping up from the second tier to the top flight is never easy for newly-promoted sides, but Bielsa's men made it look easy. The Argentine continued to develop and improve the players at his disposal, while the recruitment of big-money signings such as Raphinha and Rodrigo were also key to their success. Leeds fans witnessed a thrilling season back in the Premier League and their love for Bielsa grew stronger.
2021-22: Second season syndrome at Elland Road
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Many Leeds supporters would have anticipated that they would eventually morph into a regular top-10 team challenging for Europe; however, a winless start to the new campaign in August and September saw Bielsa and co get off on the wrong foot.
Form improved between October and the beginning of December, with three wins, four draws and two defeats, though they remained in a precarious position just above the drop zone. Leeds then ended 2021 with three successive defeats against Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal, conceding 14 goals in the process, including a 7-0 drubbing at the Etihad Stadium.
In the New Year, the Whites faithful would have hoped that two important victories against Burnley and West Ham United would act as a springboard for a positive run of form going forward. However, the 3-2 win at the London Stadium on January 16 turned out to be Bielsa's last as their head coach.
Leeds lost five and drew one of their next six league matches, albeit the last three were against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, but it was the manner of the defeats which caused concern. While Leeds continued to pose a threat going forward, Bielsa was unable to rectify their evident defensive frailties, which ultimately resulted in his downfall in West Yorkshire.
