Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterSucceeding a club legend in the dugout is never an easy task, not least a club where the fans are as passionate as they are at Leeds United.In fact, the Elland Road club had some of the most infamous managerial succession sagas in football history, when Brian Clough lasted just 44 days as Don Revies replacement back in 1974.Fast forward four decades and Leeds found themselves in the position of having to replace another iconic figure, who had quickly formed a strong emotional bond with the clubs loyal supporters. You may like Farke's fury backs up Leeds United spirit as Manchester City forced to dig deep at a white-hot Elland Road Marcelo Bielsa knocked on my parents door at 1am to offer me a trial. The streets were empty except for stray dogs The extreme methods used to discover Mauricio Pochettino How Michael Skubalas Family History and Coaching Influences Shaped His Success at Lincoln City Jesse Marsch on the challenge of succeeding Marcelo BielsaDuring his four-year tenure in West Yorkshire, Marcelo Bielsa had not only delivered Leeds back into the Premier League following a 16-year absence with an irresistible, relentless style of attacking football, but his humble, principled manner saw him quickly build a connection with the fans.Leeds stuttering form in the teams second season back in the top flight saw him relieved of his duty in February 2022, with American coach Jesse Marsch quickly hired as the Argentines replacement.It was a big challenge, Marsh says as he reflects on his 11-month spell in charge at Elland Road to FourFourTwo.I had always coached teams that were higher in the food chain, instead of lower down, but I made some strong relationships within the community and the club. I learned a lot there were challenges, from a leadership and a football perspective.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Marsch was sacked less than a year after arriving in the Premier League, with Leeds sitting 17th in the Premier League table and in the midst of a relegation scrap which would eventually see them lose the top-flight status they had worked so hard to restore.I do believe we would have stayed up and then continued on a good path it was a shame that the club gave up on it, then paid the price [by going down], the former RB Leipzig boss continues.But I was happy to see they got back to the Premier League and I hope they continue to find a way to stay there.Marsh also acknowledges that succeeding Bielsa also brought about its own unique pressures.Bielsa was a fan favourite there, but internally I think it was clear that the club were ready for something different.I tried to take some of the things that had been established by Marcelo and others at Leeds, and then turn it into something that I believed could be successful moving forward.TOPICSLeeds UnitedPremier LeagueJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromRichard Edwards
