Former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has agreed to become manager of Uruguay’s senior men national team, a top ranking official of the country’s football association stated on Thursday.
Jorge Casales, a top official of the executive committee of the Uruguayan football association, revealed to The Associated Press that the ex-marseilles boss will pen a deal through the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Casales also stated that Marcelo Bielsa is expected in Montevideo within the next few days to sign the dotted line to make the deal official.
He said: “The only thing missing is the signature.”
The Argentine’s first matches in charge of Uruguay are expected to be in June, when Uruguay are scheduled to trade friendly battles against Nicaragua and Cuba.
The qualifying competition for 2026 FIFA World Cup for countries in South America will commence in September.
Jorge Casales stated that Uruguay are bringing in Marcelo Bielsa because the Argentine would leave them with a legacy.
He said: “We are bringing in someone who we know will leave us a legacy that goes beyond the 90 minutes of a match.”
Uruguay were eliminated from the last World Cup in Qatar in the group stage of the mundial.
Marcelo Bielsa managed the Albiceleste of Argentina between 1998 and 2004 and he witnessed his side crash out at the group stage of the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup.
The 67-year-old led Argentina to the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and he exited the South American powerhouse due to personal reasons.
Marcelo Bielsa also managed Chile from 2007 to 2011 and he reportedly laid the groundwork for the successes recorded by the Chileans years after his exit.
He also had stints at Spanish clubs Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao alongside French top-flight teams namely Marseille and Lille.
Marcelo Bielsa has been jobless since February 2022 when he was dismissed by relegation-threatened Leeds United.
Jorge Casales also established that negotiation talks with Marcelo Bielsa took a lengthy period of three months before both parties could come to an agreement.
The deal about to be penned by Bielsa is expected to run for at least three-years-and-three months.
Who is Marcelo Bielsa and when was he born?
Marcelo Bielsa is an Argentine professional football manager whose most recent managerial job was managing Leeds before he was dismissed in February 2022.
He was born on the 21st of July 1955.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Philosophy
Bielsa is known for his playing philosophy which is based on building up from defense, even when playing against a side which presses high up the field of play.
For any football team to be successful by starting play from the goalkeeper, skilful defenders are required.
He employs an attacking style of play that requires the majority of his players to be technically gifted and tactically sound.
Is Marcelo Bielsa married?
The man born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina has been married to Laura Bracalenti since 1990.
Marcelo Bielsa’s children
He is a father of two children namely Marcedes Bielsa and Inés Bielsa.
Marcelo Bielsa’s net worth
The net worth of Marcelo Bielsa is estimated at $5 million.
Marcelo Bielsa’s nickname
His nickname is El Loco Bielsa which means “The Madman Bielsa.”
Coaches that have praised Marcelo Bielsa
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talked about his huge admiration for Bielsa and even called him the best manager in football.
He said: “My admiration for Marcelo Bielsa is huge because he makes the players much, much better. Still, I didn’t meet one guy, a former player from Marcelo Biesla who speaks no good about him. “They are grateful about his influence on their careers in football.
“He helped me a lot with his advice. Whenever I speak with him I always feel like he wants to help me.
“It is important for me to say this about Marcelo because it doesn’t matter how many titles he had in his career. We are judged by that – how much success we have, how many titles we have won.
“But that is much less influential than how he has influenced football and his football players. That is why, for me, he is the best coach in the world.”
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino also talked about his admiration for him and his influence on his coaching career.
He said: “He is like my football father. We are a generation of coaches who were his disciples. “How he feels football, the passion he has for football, I think we all took that from him.”
Diego Simone also spoke about the lessons he took from Marcelo Bielsa.
Simone stated: “I have the influence of several coaches: Bielsa, Eriksson, Basile, they have all left a mark. Bielsa taught me the most.”
