Marcelo Bielsa

Who is Marcelo Bielsa?

Marcelo Alberto Bielsa Caldera is an Argentine football coach in charge of Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille. Bielsa has managed football clubs and also the national teams of Argentina and Chile. In Chile, he achieved cult status due to the improved results of the national team under his leadership. His personality and gestures have in Chile captured the attention of media and unleashed a series of minor controversies both in the area of sports and politics.

In 1980, after retiring from playing in football, Bielsa decided to start a career as a football manager. His first assignment was coaching the youth divisions of Argentine club Newell's Old Boys. In 1990, Bielsa was given the task of managing Newell's first team where he would later go on to win the 1990 Torneo Apertura and the 1990–91 Torneo Integración defeating Boca Juniors on penalties. El Loco managed the squad that competed in the final of the 1992 Copa Libertadores losing to São Paulo on penalties. Weeks later after enduring defeat in the Copa Libertadores final, Bielsa and Newell's won the 1992 Torneo Clausura.