Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa won't be around for the final 12 matches to help save a struggling side which is now just two points away from the relegation zone.
A 4-0 thrashing at home to Tottenham this weekend cost the Argentine manager his job as the losing streak reached four matches with his team outscored 17-2 in that span.
Bielsa has enjoyed a special relationship with the Leeds faithful since his arrival in 2018 after he finally guided the club back into the Premier League in 2020 to end a 16-year wait.
Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani made what he called the "toughest decision I have had to make during my tenure at Leeds United" and let Bielsa go in a bid to revive their survival hopes.
Leeds United can confirm the club have parted company with head coach Marcelo Bielsa
— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 27, 2022
Why Leeds fired Marcelo Bielsa
The decision to fire Bielsa was a tough call for Leeds based on the fondness developed between the former Argentina national team coach and the Leeds supporters.
In the past Radrizzani consistently backed Bielsa, but there was a growing feeling that Leeds' luckless season would end in Bielsa's final act.
A total of 23 points from 26 matches was prime relegation form, with just seven points from eight games since the start of 2022, and early exits from both domestic cup competitions.
Leeds seemed to clearly suffer from 'second season syndrome' with 35 points earned at the same juncture last season.
Injuries played a crucial role in Bielsa's issues in 2021-22 with key pair Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford missing huge chunks of the campaign.
Bamford's absence stripped the side of a genuine goal scorer, while Phillips' role as the anchor in Leeds' midfield caused significant disruption to Bielsa's tactical style. The midfield balance was also upset, as they continued to try to go punch-for-punch with opponents, staying true to Bielsa's philosophy.
Candidates to replace Bielsa at Leeds
Bielsa's replacement will immediately be demanded to keep them in the Premier League.
Former RB Leipzig head coach Jesse Marsch is reported to have agreed to replace Bielsa after his exit from the Bundesliga club in December. The Telegraph last week reported that Marsch was under consideration as a potential summer replacement, but that timeline has been accelerated.
Marsch's reputation took a blow during his time at Leipzig, but his previous work with RB Salzburg and New York Red Bulls has established his growing coaching resume.
The American employs a similar intense pressing style, but tactically he prefers a traditional 4-4-2 system, compared to Biesla's fabled 4-1-4-1.
Paulo Fonseca is the other name linked to Elland Road (report below). However, his recent history of ultimately missing out on Premier League jobs has placed Marsch as the cleat frontrunner.
Notte agitata per gli allenatori in #Premier. #Conte chiede un faccia a faccia con la dirigenza del #THFC.
— Gianluigi Longari (@Glongari) February 23, 2022
- Si complica la posizione di #Bielsa al #Leeds dopo il duro ko con il Liverpool. Tra i nomi valutati se le cose precipitassero c’è anche #Fonseca.
Marcelo Bielsa's contract at Leeds
Bielsa made a habit of waiting until the end of every season to agree on a contract extension, with fans left hanging last summer until he finally renewed.
His time at Leeds will go down as his longest stint in charge of one club, with the 66-year-old reaching a new four-season benchmark.
The logic behind this method was always to ensure he remained fully focused on the job at hand, but also to ensure he was comfortable in the direction in which the team was heading.
Hisdeal was set to expire in June, with Leeds having previously been open to another 12-month extension before the tailspin in league play.
MORE: The latest snapshot of the Premier League races
Will Leeds United be relegated?
Leeds find themselves in a clutch of teams on the edge of relegation danger with an upturn for Burnley and Newcastle changing the momentum of the battle at the bottom.
The Whites have 12 games left to preserve their Premier League position. However, their rivals have at least one game in hand over them.
That uneven picture means Leeds will not have a clear idea of the real state of affairs until April as Burnley and others play catch-up.
However, despite concerns over relegation, Leeds' run of matches down the stretch is relatively kind with no away games against Top Four teams.
Based on previous season averages, they need around 36 points to survive, and with home matches against Aston Villa, Norwich City and Brighton on the horizon, they do have a fighting chance. But that task will be left to a new manager to navigate.
