Hey, football fans! Welcome to another edition of my blog, where I share my thoughts and opinions on the beautiful game. Today, I want to talk about a topic that has been on my mind for a while: Marcelo Bielsa and his chances of becoming the next manager of the England football team.
Marcelo Bielsa is a legendary figure in the world of football. He is an Argentine professional football manager who most recently managed Leeds United in the Premier League. He is known for his innovative and demanding style of play, which has influenced many other coaches such as Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone. He is also nicknamed El Loco Bielsa, meaning “The Madman Bielsa”, because of his eccentric and passionate personality.
Bielsa started his managerial career in his native Argentina, where he coached Newell’s Old Boys, Vélez Sarsfield and the national team. He then moved to Mexico, where he worked with Atlas and América. He also had spells in Spain with Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao, in France with Marseille and Lille, and in Italy with Lazio. He also coached the Chilean national team, leading them to their first World Cup appearance in 12 years in 2010.
Bielsa joined Leeds United in June 2018, when they were in the Championship, the second tier of English football. He transformed the club’s fortunes, winning promotion to the Premier League in 2020 after a 16-year absence. He also earned praise for his attractive and attacking football, which saw Leeds finish ninth in their first season back in the top flight. However, his tenure at Leeds ended abruptly in February 2022, when he was sacked after a run of poor results that left them close to the relegation zone.
Now, there are rumours that Bielsa could be a candidate for the England job, after Gareth Southgate announced that he would step down after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Some fans and pundits have expressed their admiration for Bielsa’s philosophy and vision, and think that he could bring a new dimension to the Three Lions. Others, however, have doubts about his suitability for the role, citing his lack of experience with international football, his language barrier and his unpredictable behaviour.
So, what are the strengths and weaknesses of Bielsa as a potential England manager? Let’s take a look at some of them.
Strengths:
- Bielsa is a master tactician who can adapt to different situations and opponents. He is not afraid to experiment with different formations and strategies, and often surprises his rivals with his bold decisions. He is also known for his meticulous preparation and analysis of every detail of the game.
- Bielsa is a motivator who can inspire his players to give their best on the pitch. He is passionate about football and transmits that passion to his team. He also demands high standards of professionalism and discipline from his players, both on and off the field.
- Bielsa is a leader who can command respect and loyalty from his players. He is honest and straightforward with them, and treats them as equals. He also shows humility and generosity towards his opponents and fans. He has a strong sense of ethics and values that guide his actions.
- Bielsa is an innovator who can bring a fresh and exciting style of play to England. He advocates for an offensive and entertaining football that aims to dominate possession and create chances. He also encourages his players to press high up the pitch, recover the ball quickly and transition fast from defence to attack.
Weaknesses:
- Bielsa is a stubborn and inflexible coach who can be reluctant to change his methods or admit his mistakes. He sometimes sticks to his principles even when they are not working or when they are not suited to his players or context. He also tends to ignore external opinions or criticisms that do not align with his own.
- Bielsa is a demanding and exhausting coach who can burn out his players physically and mentally. He imposes a rigorous training regime that requires high levels of intensity and endurance from his players. He also expects them to follow his instructions to the letter and play with maximum effort at all times.
- Bielsa is a volatile and unpredictable coach who can cause controversy or conflict with his actions or words. He sometimes makes rash or impulsive decisions, so would certainly be entertaining as the Next England Manager!