Leeds United appoint Marcelo Bielsa as club's new coach

Leeds United appoint Marcelo Bielsa as club's new coach

Marcelo Bielsa, nuevo entrenador del Leeds United
Marcelo Bielsa, nuevo entrenador del Leeds United | AFP

The former Athletic Club manager takes over at Elland Road

Former Argentina, Espanyol and Athletic Club coach Marcelo Bielsa has been appointed as the new boss of Leeds United. 

Bielsa, 62, joins Leeds, who are currently in the second tier of English football, on a two-year deal with the option for an additional year. 

"It has always been my ambition to work in England and I have had several opportunities to do so during my career, however I have always felt it was important to wait for the right project to come along and so when a club with Leeds United's history made me an offer, it was impossible to turn down," Bielsa said in a statement.

"I am excited for the challenge ahead."

Bielsa has always been widely respected as a coach and the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino cite him among their biggest influences. 

His style of football -- intense, pressing and often draining -- has won many admirers and Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani hopes he can bring a new culture to the club. 

"He is a coach that I have admired for many years and when the opportunity arose to bring him to Elland Road, we made it our top priority for the summer," said Radrizzani.

"Marcelo has a wealth of experience and he will use that to create a new culture and a winning mentality at our football club.

"I would like to thank Victor Orta and Angus Kinnear for all of the hard work that has gone into this appointment and I look forward to progressing together."