Leeds United fans have taken out a full-page advert in an Argentinian newspaper to thank former head coach Marcelo Bielsa.
Bielsa departed Leeds in Feburary, with the West Yorkshire club in a poor run of form. The 66-year-old had been in charge for nearly four years, leading the club back to the Premier League in 2020.
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For ending Leeds’ 16-year exile from the Premier League and an enthralling style of football, Bielsa built up a strong bond with the club’s fanbase.
The city of Leeds named a street — ‘Marcelo Bielsa Way’ — after the coach in 2020, following their promotion to the top tier of English football.
Despite the club’s poor form in their second season in the Premier League and their proximity to the relegation zone, Bielsa’s sacking proved to be controversial among Leeds fans.
And it is those fans who have taken out an advert in ‘La Capital’ in Rosario, the city Bielsa is from.
The page has, “THANK YOU MARCELO” printed in large type, followed by a message to Bielsa in Spanish which translates to the following:
“We stood in the August 2018 sun mesmerised by football we didn’t know was possible.
“And we felt something again.
“You reminded us that football can be beautiful and that a team can be greater than the sum of its parts. Side before self.
“And you gave us so much more than football. You took us through a pandemic and brought us together while we were all apart.
“You showed us that integrity and decency matter, in good times and bad.
“You embraced our fears and turned our despair into hope and our footballers into heroes.
“You improved us all.
“You restored our pride, gave us joy and created precious memories that will last a lifetime.
“And it was beautiful, Marcelo. And it will always be so very beautiful. Thank you.”
Bielsa was replaced at Leeds by American coach Jesse Marsch. Under Marsch, Leeds have picked up 10 points from six games and lie 16th in the league, nine points from the relegation zone.
Their next game is a trip to Crystal Palace on Monday, April 25.
(Photo: Newell's Old Boys)
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