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  • A Cultural Hero Or An Overrated Maverick: Should Leeds United Honour Marcelo Bielsa With A Statue?

A cultural hero or an overrated maverick: Should Leeds United honour Marcelo Bielsa with a statue?

Now that the Marcelo Bielsa era has officially come to an end, questions are being raised about the appropriate way to mark the Argentine’s three-and-a-half-year stint at Elland Road.

Leeds travel to Leicester this weekend as they look to end their six-match winless run and move further away from the bottom three. 

But as fans look ahead to a new future under Jesse Marsch, questions remain over how Leeds should honour Marcelo Bielsa's time at the club.

Recent reports have suggested that Leeds could commemorate his efforts with a statue. But while that may be a natural course of action for the thousands of Bielsa disciples, some neutrals are finding the prospect ludicrous. So what exactly are the arguments on both sides of the debate?

Looking at the Argentine's reign on paper, you begin to understand the neutral's point of view. After all, Bielsa led a team to promotion, stayed up for a season, and ultimately faced the chop after a poor run of results. Put like that, it's hard to see the justification for something as emphatic as a statue.

Some will argue that there are managers at other clubs who have enjoyed similar successes and where the notion of them being granted a statue would be questionable at the very least.

David Wagner, for instance, took Huddersfield Town into the Premier League on a shoestring budget in 2017 and, stunningly, avoided relegation in their first season in the top flight.

Phil Brown, back in 2007, took Hull City into the Premier League - the first time the club had reached the top flight in their history. He avoided immediate relegation before a bad run of results led to his sacking the following season. He's still thought of fondly by the Hull fans but a statue...come on.

But of course, it's not as simple as that. To understand Bielsa's devotees, you need to appreciate their point of view. For them, it's not just about stats or points. It's about culture, character and love for the beautiful game.

In many ways, Bielsa and Leeds United have a lot of similarities. Both are unorthodox. Both are erratic. Both, in truth, are mavericks.

Bielsa is a proponent of attacking football to idealistic levels. Leeds, on the other hand, have expectations which don't match their level of resources. The two were a match made in heaven, and it made for the most incredible three-and-a-half years.

During his time at Elland Road, Bielsa was uncompromising when it came to his tactics. Whether they were playing Barnsley in the Championship or Manchester United in the Premier League, there was never a question mark about how Leeds would approach each and every game.

Inevitably, the style which made him loved was also the reason behind his eventual downfall. With Leeds facing an injury crisis, Bielsa never compromised on his strategy and ultimately didn't have the tools to implement his gameplan.

Nevertheless, Bielsa can be considered a modern-day Don Revie in the way he analysed the game and researched rivals. Revie's dossiers became infamous as he attained information on every possible opponent.

One story which encapsulates Bielsa goes back to the time of his appointment. Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani revealed the Argentine had watched 10 Leeds games from the time the club got in touch to their telephone conversation the following day.

His incredible approach to football was also brought to the world's attention following the spygate scandal concerning Derby County.

It's tales like these which re-emphasise Bielsa's El Loco moniker. But then again, Bielsa radiates normality in an age when football players, managers and personalities often appear to be above the common man in societal hierarchies.
Bielsa walked to training, visited Wetherby, lived in a tiny flat, sat on buckets, drank coffee at Morrisons - it's thing like these, coupled with his remarkable knowledge and passion for football, which turned him into a cult hero. Not only here, but also abroad.
It's true that Bielsa won't go down in history as the most effective manager. It's true that he won't be remembered for defensive solidity. But there is one thing he will be adored for.

Bielsa made the city of Leeds fall back in love with football. That is something that cannot be measured in points, wins or promotions. It could, however, be measured in statues. 

READ MORE: Seven things you need to know about new Leeds United manager, Jesse Marsch

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