Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is considered as one of the visionaries of modern football, yet there’s always someone ready to take a swipe… probably a little jealous at all the praise.
Chilean outlet BBCL has a story on the Championship side’s boss, where they look into three managers who have had an impact on Chilean football: Fernando Riera, Jorge Sampaoli and Bielsa.
The Leeds coach managed the South American nation between 2007 and 2011, but has failed to challenge for silverware during his time with them. Many still considered he set them up for future success.
Former U20 Chile coach José Sulantay, who led his then side to a third place finish at the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup in Canada, is clearly ‘annoyed’ with the legacy of Bielsa’s achievements with Chile.
“Every year there have been good generations in Chile, for all of life, but the coaches… it’s already good. Bielsa has not done anything in Europe, except to be with a second division team now… what will a foreigner change us [Chile],” Sulantay said.
“I did not form them, I polished them, because they had their clubs. But I went to look for them one by one, with a player profile, it’s not luck. These players were for an idea of my football that I defined for years. I wanted to make a different football and that’s what I told the players.
“I’m not saying that Bielsa is bad, but here in Chile, what did he do? He went to a World Cup and won one or two games, he beat Honduras, Switzerland, and nothing else. Lost to Spain and lost to Brazil, but with that, they kiss his feet.”
Sulantay is clearly unhappy that the Leeds United has received praise that he didn’t. Added to being Argentine and not Chilean, well it’s left a bitter taste for the former youth coach.
