‘So lucky for four glorious years’: 23 Leeds fans on what Bielsa achieved

Planet Football • 27 Feb 2022

Leeds United have parted ways with Marcelo Bielsa and the mood within the fanbase can be summed up in two words: absolutely gutted.

The legendary Argentinian manager’s four-year reign has come to a sad end, with the board deciding to look to another coach for their relegation battle run-in.

He was sacked after Leeds’ 4-0 defeat at home to Tottenham yesterday, a result that’s a continuation of their recent defensive struggles: in February they conceded a record number of goals for a Premier League side in a single month and have picked up just one point from the last six available.

In spite of that form, the reaction on social media has been united behind the 66-year-old manager, who will no doubt remain a beloved figure at the club. There is some anger at the board for taking the decision, while many have questioned their lack of investment this season – particularly in the January transfer window.

Posts on Twitter have expressed little but love and gratitude towards Bielsa, for his character and decency as much for the unforgettably exciting style of football he instilled at Elland Road and the long-awaited promotion he led them to in 2020.

We’ve taken a look through and picked out 23 responses to summarise what he means to the fanbase. It’s evident that he’ll always be remembered as a Leeds United legend.

Football is an unsentimental, unforgiving business, but whatever happens from here, Marcelo gave us this. And it was beautiful. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/0Z1JhBlgHp

— The Square Ball (@TheSquareBall) February 26, 2022

Bielsa is one of the last bastions of an ideology that rages against the unfair, corporate, money-obsessed machine that modern-day football has become. Unrelenting, uncompromising & absolutely fearless. We won’t see his like again. It was sublime. #LUFC #ThankYouMarcelo

— Phil Thompson (@PhilThompson_OT) February 26, 2022

One other thing to credit Bielsa for is getting us through the pandemic. In the most miserable, death-filled, isolated days it was punctuated by some magnificent football and leadership. Literally the only good thing some weeks. It got a lot of us through.

— Michael Normanton (@Michael_TSB) February 26, 2022

Sounds cheesy but Bielsa changed my life. He got me painting,which got me out of v dark places. Promotion: amazing but more imp, while 'other' leaders acted shamefully, he's shown integrity, morals honour, honesty. He got my son to hug me.Whatever happens, 4ever grateful.#lufc

— Andy – Burley Banksy (@theburleybanksy) February 26, 2022

Thank you Marcelo. For bringing a broken fan base together. For giving a city pride. For some of the greatest football I’ve ever seen from white shirts. For showing decency can win. For making us want to be better. For final joyful moments with my dad I will cherish forever 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/2zjuITnda4

— Ruth Saxton (@ruthsaxton76) February 26, 2022

https://twitter.com/funkyrabbit/status/1497640969289670658

Bielsa helped to get me through the hardest period of my life when I was in really bad place mentally. I wrote to him to tell him how pivotal he and the team were in getting me through the hard times and received this from him. It will always be treasured. Gracias, Marcelo. pic.twitter.com/s5H6YJEcUv

— Bill (@billsomenumbers) February 26, 2022

A letter of thanks to Marcelo Bielsa.

We've also created a platform to allow fans to share their own messages, which we will then collate and share with him. https://t.co/WvMrxcQ3k9 #GraciasMarcelo pic.twitter.com/QB3PE2grRe

— LUFC Trust (@lufctrust) February 27, 2022

I love this man #lufc pic.twitter.com/NwQT5UGODR

— MrPaulRobinson (@MrPaulRobinson) February 26, 2022

https://twitter.com/EastStandUpper/status/1497896224170512387

Marcelo Bielsa is the greatest man to be associated with Leeds United in my life, but this is it.

— EAMO (@EamoV1) February 26, 2022

https://twitter.com/AndrewHaigh/status/1497665932126261249

https://twitter.com/ArcticReviews/status/1497581368452300810

Marcelo Bielsa was never about points on the board or places in the table, it was about being stuck in a cold cynical world and having something to believe in. If it has to end I'm just so, so glad it happened.

— Sophie Levin (@sophielevin11) February 26, 2022

#InBielsaWeTrust https://t.co/vpfNPwYRDv pic.twitter.com/MCDTqyhmNv

— Punjabi Whites (@Punjabi_whites) February 26, 2022

Thank you Mr Bielsa for everything you have done for my family, Leeds United and the City of Leeds. You gave us all something to be proud of. We will be forever in your debt ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mmZBQkPl7W

— Lindsay Crosby (@LindsayCrosby1) February 27, 2022

Good on ⁦@RonJichardson⁩ and ⁦@LucyABeaumont⁩ on @SundayBrunchC4 #Bielsa #LUFC pic.twitter.com/DL8xZTL3zv

— DirtyLeeds #LUFC #MOT (C) (@DirtyLeedsPS) February 27, 2022

So now it’s official and the Bielsa era is over. Today is a very sad day and I think @LUFC and @andrearadri have handled this situation terribly. Bielsa will live on in our hearts and minds long after the current board have left Elland Road. Thanks for everything Marcelo. pic.twitter.com/ZXNylwc7mn

— Crash Records (@Crash_Records) February 27, 2022

The man who made Leeds United great again. A wonderful man who has brought me so much joy and happiness.

So upset reading this, but also so happy looking back at what this man has done.

Thankyou, Marcelo.#LUFC https://t.co/eBuH6VaeYG

— Conor McGilligan (@ConorMcGilligxn) February 27, 2022

Absolutely heartbroken about Bielsa. It didn't have to be like this. And much as I'm grateful to the board for where they've helped to take the club, they're also partly to blame. Either way…a very sad day for #LUFC 😢#GraciasMarcelo 🤍 pic.twitter.com/3XYDGEw9N0

— Matt Abbott | Poet 🍉 (@mattabbottpoet) February 27, 2022

What a wonderful man he is. Gave me one of my happiest memories, marching my kids round North London during lockdown, belting out Marching on Together. Club never deserved him. pic.twitter.com/01QCdGjgpM

— Ben Machell (@ben_machell) February 26, 2022

Love Bielsa forever. Redefined my relationship with my club, city and fellow fans. Gave me a perspective I never saw before and probably never will again #lufc

— Ben Machell (@ben_machell) February 27, 2022

Could live to a hundred and I doubt I’ll see another coach make the impact & work the miracles Bielsa did at Leeds. Maintain there’s not another manager on the planet that could’ve done what he did when he arrived. #lufc

— Nestor Watach (@NestorWatach) February 26, 2022

https://twitter.com/Lufcwaffles/status/1497688485947482118

https://twitter.com/LUFCDATA/status/1497696006414159875