Leeds FC head coach Marcelo Bielsa has confirmed that he has agreed with the club a one-year contract extension to remain in charge of Leeds.

The 66-year old has been leading the club this summer and even over the pre-season friendlies without a contract having seen his contract with Leeds expire at the end of last season, but the club and his agent were comfortable with it knowing a deal was to be agreed soon.

The confirmation by Bielsa that he has extended his contract with Leeds comes just two days before the start of 2021/2022 Premier League season set to kick off on Friday 13, August 2021.

Marcelo Bielsa in a past Leeds match.
PHOTO: Courtesy

Leeds will however start their season on Saturday 14, August 2021 when they travel to Manchester to take on last season’s runners-up Manchester United at Old Trafford. The last time Leeds traveled to Old Trafford, they suffered a heartbreaking 6-2 loss in December 2020.

During the pre-match conference for the Saturday clash against the red devils, Bielsa was asked by a journalist about his contract situation and he confirmed his contract was ‘resolved’ and hinted that he has agreed to 12 more months at Elland Road.

Although talks have taken longer than many had thought, both Bielsa and Leeds have remained calm and reached an agreement before the start of the Premier League season.

The Argentine did not travel to his native Argentina this summer and opted to remain at the club’s facilities hoping the contract issue will be sorted before the end of the pre-season.

Since joining the Yorkshire side in 2018, the real Leeds fan has quickly turned Leeds into a top-flight world-class club from a championship club. He led the club to promotion to the top-flight league after winning the EFL Championship in the 2019/2020 season.

Leeds was promoted to the Premier League for the first time since 2003 and managed a top-half finish in its first season in the Premier League since 2003.

While on an interview with Premier League’s official broadcaster sky sports recently, Bielsa said, “We are going to try to improve all aspects of our play, we have weak points which we showed over the course of last season. Now is the time to correct those things and do things more effectively.”

Marcelo Bielsa (left) with his interpreter at a past interview.
PHOTO: Courtesy

“I believe that in football, there is very little margin to invent or create new things. What we will try to do is to improve the things we have been doing up until now. Yes, we are now better known to our rivals. But they are also better known to us.” He added.

Leeds has also handed Bielsa more signings this transfer window helping Bielsa bring back winger Jack Harrison who was on loan from Manchester City on a permanent deal. Harrison had returned to Manchester City at the end of the season. Bielsa has also added left-back Junior Firpo from Barcelona after the departure of Ezgjan Alioski who joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in the hope of building a better squad and challenge for European football.