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10 of the best quotes about Marcelo Bielsa: ‘The best coach in the world’

Marcelo Bielsa is back in management, having been appointed as Uruguay’s new boss.

The Argentinian is widely regarded as one of the most influential tacticians in football history, and he remains a beloved figure at former clubs Leeds United, Athletic Bilbao and hometown club Newell’s Old Boys, as well as in Chile – his last job in international football.

Rather than attempting to sum him up ourselves, here are some of the best quotes explaining Bielsa’s impact.

Fernando Llorente

“At first he seems tough and he may even annoy you with his persistence and don’t take no for an answer resilience but in the end he is a genius.”

Javi Martinez

“There are days when he doesn’t leave the training ground until the small hours, it is insane.”

Pep Guardiola

“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 Bielsa who speaks no good of 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. He’s the best coach in the world.”

Mauricio Pochettino

“He is like my football father. We are a generation of coaches that were his disciples. How he feels football, the passion he has for football, I think we all took that from him.”

Johan Cruyff

“Marcelo Bielsa’s Chile played the most attractive football in this World Cup.” (2010)

Diego Simeone

“I have the influence of several coaches: Bielsa, Eriksson, Basile, they have all left a mark. Bielsa taught me the most.”

 

Alexis Sanchez

“I learned a lot from him and it is because of him that I am who I am. What I remember the most about Bielsa was the mentality that he tries his players to have.”

Diego Maradona

“For me what Bielsa has done is worthier than what Simeone has. Marcelo made a team out of nothing.”

Liam Rosenior

“This modus operandi has stemmed from Bielsa and I’m sure Guardiola and Pochettino would agree he was a key part of their football education, and if these young English players keep performing and improving under these principles – thus elevating our national team to new heights – then I for one will be raising a glass in appreciation to ‘El Loco’.”

Liam Cooper

“You united a club, a city & a team going nowhere. I will be forever grateful for everything you and your staff did for me and my family. A club legend of our era. Gracias Marcelo.”


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