February 27, (THEWILL) – Leeds United have confirmed manager Marcelo Bielsa’s departure following a poor run of form in which the club has lost five of their previous six English Premier League games.
Leeds are now 16th on the table, having played more games than most of the teams around them, as Bielsa’s side has been dragged into a relegation battle after conceding 14 goals in the space of a week.
The club’s most recent setback, a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, proved to be the final nail in Bielsa’s coffin, with the news that he would be leaving Elland Road, as THEWILL reported previously.
Leeds have officially confirmed the news and praised Bielsa in a statement from Andrea Radrizzani, the Leeds chairman that said: “This has been the toughest decision I have had to make during my tenure at Leeds United, taking into account all the success Marcelo has had at the club.
“With Marcelo as our head coach, we had three incredible campaigns and the good times returned to Elland Road. He changed the culture of the club and brought a winning mentality to us all. The moments created, particularly in the 2019/20 season and winning promotion to the Premier League, will of course live long in all our memories, myself and the fans included.
“However, I have to act in the best interest of the club and I believe a change is required now in order to secure our Premier League status. Recent results and performances have not met our expectations.
“We find ourselves in a precarious league position and I feel now is the right time to bring in a new head coach, in order to have an impact in the decisive stage of the season.
“Naturally, myself, along with everyone else at the club would like to thank Marcelo for his efforts and achievements and we wish him the very best for the future.”
In the summer of 2018, the famous Argentine took charge of Leeds, ending the club’s 16-year hiatus from the Premier League when he brought them back to the top level in 2020.
Bielsa soon established himself as a cult hero at Elland Road, winning over fans with his lively style of play and willingness to invest in the club’s academy, all while posting great results in his first few seasons in command.
Leeds finished in ninth place in the Premier League in 2020/21, but were unable to continue that form this season. They managed only two wins of their first ten league games, and Bielsa’s rule ended with a two-win streak from 12 games, a far cry from how they performed in the 2020/2021 campaign.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
