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Leeds United Boss Marcelo Bielsa Took Under 11s Training Session

Leeds United Boss Marcelo Bielsa Took Under 11s Training Session

The club season has just finished but Marcelo Bielsa took an Under 11s training session.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Anyone who expected Marcelo Bielsa to be kicking back with his feet up after a long, demanding but successful season with Leeds United is sorely mistaken.

While some Premier League managers have jetted off on their holidays, Bielsa is still in Leeds and was spotted taking an Under 11s training session on Monday evening.

'El Loco' was wearing Leeds shorts and t-shirt on a local astro-turf pitch as he gathered youngsters around for a talk.

A Premier League manager coaching a bunch of 11-year-old kids is not a regular occurrence but what a treat it would have been to be one of those kids having Bielsa's wisdom bestowed upon you.

Incredibly, Bielsa made the young guns partake in a game of 'Murderball' - a wild and intense training drill where there's no referee, no stoppages and the ball is always in play.


Leeds fan Matthew Price was watching Bielsa, without his bucket stool/seat, pass on his expertise in the 90-minute session.

"He turned up and told them they were all playing Murderball - which they thought was fantastic," he told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"He was winding them up saying they were going to play it for three hours.

"The kids just loved it. They couldn't believe that he turned up to train them.

"Through his interpreter he told them he was going to train them today.

"He's a hero to them - he's a hero to us all - but to these kids he's an even bigger hero."

The first image being taken through a fence at a distance is also quite apt really given the whole 'Spygate' scandal in January 2019.

Bielsa had a member of his coaching staff spy on Derby County's training session with binoculars ahead of an upcoming Championship fixture and Leeds were fined £200,000 as a result.

It's no surprise that Leeds fans absolutely adore the Argentine.

After guided them back to the big-time, he led the Yorkshire club to an impressive ninth-placed finish in their return to the big-time and has had them playing a breathtaking brand of football.

He's also embraced the community in a wonderful way. Bielsa has been seen doing his pre-match preparation in coffee shops around the city and happily posed for pictures with fans.

Bielsa's deal at Elland Road is due to expire but there is no worry that he will not put pen to paper on a new contract.

And the former Athletic Bilbao and Marseille boss being spotted coaching youngsters would appear to highlight his strong commitment to the club.

Featured Image Credit: @JPHElectrical & @smithdog180986

Topics: Marcelo Bielsa, Football, Leeds United