Leeds United have confirmed the departure of manager Marcelo Bielsa following a disappointing run of form that has seen the club lose five of their last six Premier League games.
Bielsa has watched his side tumble into a relegation battle after shelling 14 goals in the space of a week, with Leeds now 16th in the table having played more games than most of the teams around them.
Their latest defeat, a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Tottenham on Saturday, proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Bielsa, with 90min breaking the news that the boss was set to depart Elland Road.
That confirmation has now come, with Leeds formalising the news and paying their respects to Bielsa in a statement.
Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani said: “This has been the toughest decision I have had to make during my tenure at Leeds United, taking into account all the success Marcelo has had at the club.
“With Marcelo as our head coach, we had three incredible campaigns and the good times returned to Elland Road. He changed the culture of the club and brought a winning mentality to us all. The moments created, particularly in the 2019/20 season and winning promotion to the Premier League, will of course live long in all our memories, myself and the fans included.
“However, I have to act in the best interest of the club and I believe a change is required now in order to secure our Premier League status. Recent results and performances have not met our expectations.
“We find ourselves in a precarious league position and I feel now is the right time to bring in a new head coach, in order to have an impact in the decisive stage of the season.
“Naturally, myself, along with everyone else at the club would like to thank Marcelo for his efforts and achievements and we wish him the very best for the future.”
The revered Argentine took charge of Leeds in the summer of 2018 and ended the club's 16-year absence from the Premier League when he led them back to the top flight in 2020.
Bielsa quickly became a cult hero at Elland Road, winning over fans with his exciting brand of football and willingness to turn to the club's academy, all while picking up impressive results over his first few seasons in charge.
Leeds secured a stunning ninth-placed finish in the Premier League in 2020/21 but failed to maintain that momentum this year. They won just two of their first ten league games and ended Bielsa's reign on a run of two wins from 12.
Source : 90min