The words of legendary Leeds United manager Don Revie, “You get NOWT for being second,” echoed across the Atlantic, resonating in the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina, where two former Leeds managers, Jesse Marsch and Marcelo Bielsa, found themselves on opposite sides of the Copa America 2024 third-place match. Marsch’s Canada fell to Bielsa’s Uruguay, a poignant reminder of the lasting influence Bielsa has exerted on the modern game, even after his brief stint at Elland Road.
Bielsa’s impact on the game is undeniable. Jonathan Wilson, a football writer, eloquently summarized it in a magazine article: “Since the back four spread from Brazil in the late 1950s and early 1960s, no South American has had such an influence on how the world plays as Bielsa has had in the first decade of the 21st century.” His blend of meticulous preparation, rigorous training, and a relentless, vertical style of play has been adopted by coaches like Mauricio Pochettino, Jorge Sampaoli, and even Pep Guardiola. Despite his cult-like status, Bielsa’s trophy cabinet is not overflowing; he boasts a few league titles in Argentina, an Olympic gold medal, and an English second-division championship. However, it is his eccentricities—his intense demeanor, his refusal to give one-on-one interviews, his marathon press conferences, his icebox perch in the dugout—that have cemented his image as ‘El Loco’ (The Madman).
His reputation, often fueled by short-lived stints at Lille and Lazio, didn’t deter Montevideo from celebrating when Bielsa was appointed Uruguay’s national team coach in May 2023. After the disappointing departure of Diego Alonso, who failed to lead Uruguay past the group stage at the 2022 World Cup, Bielsa’s arrival was seen as a breath of fresh air. His impact has been immediate and profound. Not only has he revitalized the team’s fortunes, but he has also transformed the way football is perceived in Uruguay. Under his guidance, Uruguay has climbed to second place in the CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers table, trailing only world champion Argentina. The South American press, recognizing Bielsa’s potential, touted him as the only manager capable of stopping Argentina’s continental dominance.
Bielsa’s coaching philosophy is as intricate as it is demanding. It centers around a rigorous training regime, meticulous opponent analysis, and an unwavering commitment to hard work and fitness. His preferred approach emphasizes overloading the defensive third with extra attackers, employing a “spare-man philosophy” to create numerical superiority in possession. In the final third, he favors a system with a single playmaker feeding three forwards. He prioritizes minimizing the transition time between defense and attack through verticality and rapid passing, utilizing midfielders who can defend effectively while also possessing ball-playing skills. He further encourages intelligent movement to create overloads and emphasizes rotations among different positions. Finally, his hyper-aggressive pressing strategy adds another layer of intensity to his approach.
Uruguay’s campaign in the Copa America reflected Bielsa’s influence. The team stormed through the group stage, defeating Panama, Bolivia, and the host nation. A penalty shootout victory over Brazil in the quarterfinals cemented their place as a force to be reckoned with, but ultimately, they were knocked out by Colombia in the semifinals. Bielsa’s influence was evident in the revitalized performances of players like Manuel Ugarte, Maximiliano Araujo, Facundo Pellistri, Matias Vina, Nahitan Nandez, and established stars like Rodrigo Bentancur, Darwin Nunez, and Federico Valverde, who became the heart of the team. Uruguay dazzled with their attacking flair, scoring 10 goals in five matches while conceding just two. However, as with many Bielsa teams, their brilliance wasn’t enough to secure the ultimate prize.
Since Bielsa’s arrival, Uruguay has won 11 of its last 17 matches, including a historic first victory over Brazil in 22 years and their first win over archrival Argentina in a decade. Bielsa’s relentless style pushes his players to their limits, demanding exceptional physical condition, fearless play, and unwavering dedication to winning every battle on the field. This intensity, however, can leave gaps in defense when the team’s pressing isn’t perfectly coordinated. Colombia capitalized on one such lapse in the semifinals, scoring the lone goal through Jefferson Lerma. Despite playing with 10 men for the latter half, Colombia defended valiantly, but Uruguay’s inability to finish proved their undoing. Nunez, the Liverpool striker, squandered several golden chances, including a potential first-half hat-trick. His tournament, which started with promise, ended with a tournament-high 20 shots and only two goals in the group stage. Luis Suarez, given 25 minutes to make an impact in the second half, came tantalizingly close to making a difference.
Uruguay’s loss to Colombia was overshadowed by a dark moment in Copa America history. Chaos erupted in the stands as fans from both teams clashed, apparently due to inadequate security. In a moment of apparent protective instinct, Nunez leaped into the stands to confront Colombian supporters. In a pre-match press conference before the third-place match, Bielsa, true to form, blasted the tournament organizers, criticizing their disregard for players and the game for the sake of financial gain. Uruguay secured a consolation victory in the third-place match, but the lingering questions about Bielsa’s approach and the chaotic events that followed remained unanswered. Bielsa, the firebrand, had scorched the earth with his criticism, leaving behind a smoldering legacy of ‘what ifs’. Was this a glimpse of a glorious future under his reign, or a cruel reminder of the heartbreak that often accompanies his relentless pursuit of perfection? The unanswered roar of the crowd hung heavy, a stark counterpoint to the quiet determination in Bielsa’s eyes.
One thing is certain: under Bielsa’s watch, Uruguay wouldn’t fade silently. The team would fight, press relentlessly, and leave everything on the pitch. But whether that would be enough to finally quench their thirst for glory remained a mystery as captivating as the man himself.
