Joe Cole’s comments will certainly divide opinion, but for many Leeds United supporters, they completely miss the point of what Marcelo Bielsa meant to the club.
Cole judged Bielsa almost entirely on trophies. From that perspective, his record appears modest compared to some of football’s most decorated managers. Three league titles in Argentina, an Olympic gold medal and a Championship title do not place him among the game’s serial winners.
However, Bielsa’s reputation has never been built solely on silverware.
At Leeds, he inherited a club drifting in the Championship after 15 years outside the Premier League. In two seasons, he transformed the atmosphere around Elland Road. His side played intense, fearless football, won the Championship in 2019-20, and then finished ninth in the Premier League the following season. More importantly, supporters reconnected with a club that had lost its identity.
What also separates Bielsa is the influence he has had on football’s coaching community. Managers such as Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone have all spoken about the impact his ideas had on their own careers. Guardiola famously described him as one of the greatest influences on modern coaching.
That does not mean Bielsa is beyond criticism. His demanding style can be physically draining, and his teams have occasionally struggled to sustain results over long periods. Leeds’ difficult run during the 2021-22 season ultimately led to his dismissal.
But reducing Bielsa to “a myth” because of his trophy count ignores why he is so highly regarded. Leeds fans did not fall in love with him simply because he got them promoted. They admired the honesty, intensity and ambition he brought to the club. Even when results deteriorated, many supporters were willing to stand by him because of what he had restored: belief.
In the end, the Bielsa debate comes down to what people value in football. If success is measured only by medals, Joe Cole’s argument has some basis. If influence, innovation and the emotional connection between a manager, players and supporters matter too, then Bielsa’s legacy at Leeds speaks for itself.
