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Tom Coates

Nine Leeds United players who owe Marcelo Bielsa for turning Championship players into stars

During Marcelo Bielsa's tenure at Leeds United, he transformed the fortunes of a club which had been stranded in the doldrums for the bulk of its time in the Championship.

He led the club to the second tier title in 2020, before guiding the Whites into the top half of the Premier League immediately after securing promotion.

This rejuvenation was made more impressive by the fact it was not fuelled by a relatively huge injection of cash and a squad overhaul.

Additions were made, of course, but the side which ended the top flight exile was comprised mostly of players who featured in an underwhelming 2017/18 Championship campaign.

A narrow victory over Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley in July 2020 put Leeds on the verge of promotion and of the players that started that game, six were on the books during the reign of previous head coach Paul Heckingbottom.

Without an eye-watering transfer pot at his disposal, Bielsa had to develop what he inherited. LeedsLive have taken a look at the players transformed by the Argentine during his stay.

Illan Meslier

Supporters could have been forgiven for not being particularly excited about the capture of a teenage goalkeeper, especially when a high-profile stopper was signed from Real Madrid seven months prior.

However, after been thrust into the limelight following Kiko Casilla's suspension, Meslier shone and ensured he remained as the club's first choice between the sticks.

Under the tutelage of Bielsa and goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad, the Frenchman's stock has risen swiftly and he is now widely considered as one of Europe's most exciting young goalkeepers.

Luke Ayling

Ayling was a reliable defender in his first two seasons with the club but few earmarked him as a potential Premier League star during the tenures of Garry Monk, Thomas Christiansen and Heckingbottom.

However, he grew at a rapid rate under Bielsa and equipped himself admirably against some of the Premier League's most dangerous wingers last season.

Like several of his teammates, he has not quite reached the standards he set during the previous campaign but remained one of Bielsa's most trusted lieutenants.

Liam Cooper

Liam Cooper has thanked former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa. (2021 Getty Images)

Once the subject of terrace jibes and an unwanted label, captain Liam Cooper ultimately proved the value of Bielsa's coaching.

His detractors could not have envisaged Cooper captaining the Whites to the Championship title before then racking up 25 Premier League appearances in the first season back in the top flight but that is exactly what he achieved.

The Scotland international won the trust of one of the world's most admired coaches and was a mainstay of the defence when fit as Leeds surged into 9th place in the Premier League.

Ben White

Ben White against Charlton (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Plugging the gap left by cult hero Pontus Jansson was never going to be easy and the signing of a centre-back who was untested beyond League One to do so was a bold move.

White was making progress before he arrived at Elland Road but he was catapulted into the public eye by Bielsa, a coach who had found a ball-playing defender tailor-made for his philosophy.

Unsurprisingly, he has excelled since his loan spell in West Yorkshire came to an end and is now a regular fixture in Arsenal's backline.

Pascal Struijk

Bielsa oversaw Struijk's rise from under-23s regular to Premier League prodigy and the former Ajax man serves as an excellent example of how the Argentine can develop young talent.

When the 22-year-old was turning in impressive displays for the under-23s at Thorp Arch, Bielsa was often spotted watching on.

Struijk had to bide his time but despite struggling in an early outing against Cardiff City, managed to establish himself in the first-team setup and looked increasingly comfortable under the tutelage of his boss.

Stuart Dallas

The tenacity of the Northern Ireland international was never questioned before Bielsa's arrival but the threat he posed to defenders sometimes was.

He was rarely viewed as a problem in the squad but was seldom an answer either and was not the indispensable figure he is now.

Previously seen only as a winger, he is now heralded for his versatility and was a driving force in both the promotion-winning campaign and the charge into the top half of the Premier League.

It could be argued that Dallas embodies the spirit of what Bielsa has moulded Leeds into and his efforts in the white strip will be remembered long beyond his eventual departure.

Kalvin Phillips

Like Cooper, Phillips was a player who divided opinion at Elland Road prior to Bielsa's arrival.

Some saw potential whereas others doubted him, but even his most ardent supporters will have been left stunned by the rate at which he has developed.

Bielsa saw the boyhood Whites supporter as more than just a combative midfield presence and made him an integral part of his side, moulding him into one of the most admired midfielders in Europe.

The 26-year-old played a starring role for England at Euro 2020, convincing the world of something Leeds supporters and his opponents in England already knew - that he can go toe-to-toe with the elite.

Mateusz Klich

Klich's departure appeared inevitable in 2018, as he had fallen out of favour at the club and spent the latter stage of the 2017/18 campaign on loan at FC Utrecht in the Netherlands.

The sale of Ronaldo Vieira and injury to Adam Forshaw, however, opened up an opportunity for Klich to become part of the new era.

He was handed a start in Bielsa's first competitive game in charge and immediately looked at home in the Argentine's midfield, seizing the opportunity and scoring in the 3-1 win over Stoke City.

The Poland international remained a regular fixture under Bielsa and as each season has passed, his exclusion from the squad in his debut campaign has appeared more baffling.

Patrick Bamford

Patrick Bamford in action for Leeds United. (Getty Images)

The forward was trusted by Bielsa to lead the line in the Championship, even when he received criticism for his lack of composure in front of goal.

The persistence with Bamford paid off and stands as a testament to Bielsa's judgement, as the 28-year-old notched 17 Premier League goals last season.

Injury has kept him out of action for the bulk of the current campaign and his prolonged absence has evidenced how important he is to the Whites.

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