Marcelo Bielsa agrees new Leeds United deal to end speculation over his future

Marcelo Bielsa has agreed a new contract with Leeds United to stay for a fourth season at Elland Road.

Bielsa’s current contract expires this summer and he has agreed in principle a 12-month deal for the next campaign.

The two sides are finalising the details and an announcement is expected this week.

Bielsa, 65, has hinted all along that he will stay for next season because he has everything he wants at Leeds.

When asked after Leeds’ final day 3-1 home win over West Brom if he will be remaining he said: “Everything Leeds offers a manager exceeds their expectations.”

Terms have never been an issue for Bielsa and he has not been motivated by money during his three years at Leeds.

He has always been more concerned with the set-up behind the scenes at Thorp Arch and ensuring everyone remains on the same page to allow the club to continue to progress.

Significantly, Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe were at Elland Road for the West Brom game and have been talking to Bielsa’s lawyer for the last few weeks.

They have gone on record stating how keen they are for the Argentinian to stay because they believe he can help Leeds take the next step and qualify for Europe.

Leeds fans will be relieved that Bielsa is staying because of the transformation he has engineered and the entertaining football he has brought to Elland Road.

The season before Bielsa arrived, Leeds finished 13th in the Championship.

In his first campaign at the club, they just missed out on automatic promotion as they came third, before then losing to Frank Lampard’s Derby County in the Play-Off semi-final over two legs.

But in his second season in charge, Bielsa’s Leeds romped to the Championship title and his side have won many admirers this season as they ended their first Premier League campaign in ninth place.

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