Argentina, Chile... Elland Road?! Marcelo Bielsa emerges as unlikely Leeds United managerial candidate

Marcelo Bielsa, the former Argentina and Chile coach, has emerged as a shock candidate to take over at Leeds United as the club search for their 10th manager in less than three years following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom.

Heckingbottom, 40, replaced Thomas Christiansen in February but, after winning just four of his 16 matches in charge, Leeds finished 13th in the Championship, 15 points adrift of the top six, and the club now want to appoint a head coach “with more experience”.

Leeds are thought to have made initial contact with Bielsa, who left French club Lille in December.

It is unclear whether the 62-year-old Argentine, who spent six years in charge of his native Argentina and four years coaching the Chile national team, before taking club jobs with Athletic Bilbao, Marseille and Lazio, would be prepared to move to England for the first time.

But the prospect of Bielsa,  and whom Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino cite as an influence, taking the helm at Elland Road would surprise and intrigue in equal measure.

Angus Kinnear, Leeds’ managing director, said they were “confident of making a quick appointment”. Other candidates are also being considered.

“Our objective is to bring in a head coach with more experience who can help us reach the goals we have talked about since we became custodians of the club last summer,” Kinnear said.

Only one of Leeds’ past eight managers – Garry Monk in 2016-17 – has lasted a whole season in charge. Leeds had activated a £500,000 release clause in Heckingbottom’s contract at Barnsley in order to appoint him.

Heckingbottom’s assistant, Jamie Clapham, the former Leeds defender, also departs along with head of fitness Nathan Winder, and analyst Alex Bailey. Gianni Vio – the club’s set-piece coach who was recruited prior to Heckingbottom’s arrival – is not having his contracted renewed.