Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterMarcelo Bielsa has never done things by the book, from sitting on an ice box during matches to examining the legs of a teenage Mauricio Pochettino to assess whether he would make it as a footballer.It is why the legendary coach has earned the nickname El Loco across a career spanning four decades in which he has combined trailblazing tactics with bizarre behaviour.Bielsas latest challenge is leading Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and he showed why he remains one of the most captivating figures in the game with his actions during his official FIFA portrait pictures for the tournament.Play our FREE match predictor game and win �1k'There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain' Why Marcelo Bielsa remains as captivating as everWhile most players and coaches would naturally face the camera - some may even crack a smile, or strike a pose from the menu of random actions now synomous with modern football - Bielsa stubbornly stared at the floor rather than looking down the lens."I'm not a model"- Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay managerWhen asked to explain the episode following Uruguays 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in their Group H opener on Monday, the 70-year-old was unrepentant. You may like Marcelo Bielsa could be on verge of sack after England friendly - and before Uruguay head to World Cup 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 Uruguay squad World Cup 2026: Marcelo Bielsa's names his players for Saudi Arabia opener I dont have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken, he said. Im not a model.Bielsa returned to the subject unprovoked shortly after, adding: There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain.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.If Im wearing glasses, why am I wearing glasses? You look somebody in the eye, why do you do that? There is nothing wrong about wearing glasses or looking into somebodys eyes or looking down.It is not the first time Bielsa has made headlines with his comments as Uruguay boss, having called a two-hour press conference following his sides 5-1 thrashing by the USA in Florida last November.After a result that left the former Leeds United manager under intense pressure, he explained: When I arrive, the environment becomes tense. Thats why I appear infrequently. Im toxic. To associate yourself with me makes you worse off. Do you understand me? What to read next Carlo Ancelotti is the best manager at the 2026 World Cup. Here's why he could be the Don of New Jersey come July Why are Uruguay facing travel difficulties at the 2026 World Cup? I started to play with bright jerseys because I grew up in Acapulco. I was a surfer and liked to express myself it wasnt about putting off strikers Jorge Campos explains his outrageous World Cup goalkeeper jerseys Bielsas utterings would have come as no surprise to fans of Leeds, who he managed from 2018 to 2022, leading them back into the Premier League in 2020 after 16 years away.In January 2019, a member of Leeds' coaching staff was caught spying on a training session being held by upcoming opponents Derby County - and Bielsa responded by calling a press conference, in which he revealed that the club had spied on all of their opponents that season and spent an hour giving a detailed tactical breakdown of his methods.It provided a fascinating insight into the mind of a man who perhaps would not be so influential if he wasnt a little bit Loco. Pep Guardiola has previously called Bielsa the greatest coach in the world, while the former Argentina and Chile boss has left his mark on numerous high-profile coaches including Diego Simeone, Andoni Iraola and Mauricio Pochettino.His relationship with the latter began in bizarre fashion, when he visited the family home of a teenage Pochettino in the middle of the night when he managed Argentinian side Newells Old Boys. After asking the youngsters parents if he could see him, Bielsa examined Pochettinos legs and declared he has the legs of a footballer.From that incident right up to his actions in the past few days, Bielsa has always done things differently. His comments after this latest episode even earned him support from several fans online, as his refusal to play ball with FIFA felt like a minor protest against arguably the most commercialised World Cup of all time.Football has changed almost beyond recognition since Bielsa started coaching Newells Old Boys II in 1987, but he has not changed one bit - and it is a welcome antidote to the ills of the modern game.TOPICSMarcelo BielsaUruguayLeedsLeeds UnitedWorld Cup 2026James RobertsFreelance writerJames Roberts is a freelance sports journalist working for FourFourTwo and other titles. He started his career at the Oxford Mail, where he covered Oxford United home and away, before becoming a sports sub-editor for various national newspapers.
