How Marcelo Bielsa's impact is still felt years after Leeds Untied exit

It's been almost three years since Marcelo Bielsa parted company with Leeds United after an incredible four years in charge at Elland Road. But the Argentinian's shadow is still cast across English football, such was the impact he made in West Yorkshire.

The 69-year-old is now impressing as head coach of the Uruguay national side, but he is still talked about fondly in the UK - and not just among Leeds fans.

Luke Ayling knows Bielsa better than most, having been at Elland Road throughout his spell at the club. He's now working with someone at the opposite end of his career in Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick, but says the former Manchester United star was keen to find out what Bielsa did in and around the training ground and what he could learn.

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Carrick won all there was to win during an illustrious playing career with West Ham, Tottenham, Man United and England, but Ayling has revealed he rarely speaks about his achievements - although there are tell-tale signs of his talent every now and then.

Speaking on the My Mate's a Footballer podcast, Ayling said: “You would never even think that he played football. He never speaks about it. There was once and even then, he felt embarrassed saying it. Something happened, and he related it to when he played.

"But if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t even realise until he gets the ball in training. He’s always got a ball with him to chuck one back in. It’s kind of that feeling when Rapha [Raphinha] first came in at Leeds and when he’d pass the ball it just sounded different to when any other player did it. The gaffer, he’ll get the ball to his feet even now and just whip one in between and it’s like, ‘oh my god’. Immense.

"But the thing I found amazing, when I first arrived, he was like asking me what stuff Leeds do, how Marcelo [Bielsa] was coaching, if there was anything they could do to make things better. I was like, that’s quite amazing. He’s been at the top and worked with arguably the best manager to ever work in the game, won all these trophies and yet he’s still wanting to learn and still asking me. I just thought that was amazing. I’ve been there nine months now and I love working with him and learning from him.”