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Marcelo Bielsa accepts offer to become Leeds United's new head coach in a venturesome deal
Thursday, 14th Jun 2018 23:59 by @LucasMonk_

Leeds United have tonight concluded a sensational deal that will see the Argentine, 62, become the highest paid coach in the club's voluminous history.

Sources close to Bielsa verified that the erstwhile Argentina boss intended to sign a contract with Leeds tonight - bringing to an end circuitous negotiations and making him one of the most momentous managerial appointments since the clubs foundation in 1919.

Leeds had been intently pursuing Bielsa for around a month, and had been on the periphery of concluding negotiations for several days. United owner Andrea Radrizzani disembarked for Argentina last month so as to convene with the 62-year-old after resolving to relieve former coach Paul Heckingbottom of his managerial duties.

After laborious negotiations, Bielsa is to accept a gargantuan salary, which is reported to be in excess of £2,000,000 per annum, that will make him the highest paid coach in the club's history.

It should be noted that Bielsa, a coach of world renown who favours a dynamic, possession-orientated and tactically fluid brand of football, still requires a work permit, and that Leeds shall have to secure visas for the large backroom team he wishes to recruit.

However, one thing is clear: in Bielsa, United have captured a coach who, despite having won few major trophies, is soaked in prestige, with Manchester City's Pep Guardiola describing him as "the best coach in the world".

The deal betrays clear, perhaps unworldly, ambition on the part of the club, who will enter the forthcoming Championship campaign with renewed optimism of ending a tortuous and painful exile from the Premier League after finishing a disappointing 13th last season.

Bielsa, who was most recently in the employ of Ligue 1's Lille before being dismissed in December last year after a spate of poor results, is expected to fly into Leeds over the weekend with the club's pre-season scheduled to begin on June 25.

It will be Bielsa's first foray into the English game after more than 30 years spent coaching in Mexico, Spain, France, Italy and his native Argentina, and United's latest into the unknown.

Whatever happens, the forthcoming campaign promises unadulterated drama.

Photo: Action Images



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