Marcelo Bielsa Open to Extending Leeds Contract

Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa has hinted he’d be happy to stay at the club beyond his one year contract, which is due to expire in summer 2021.

The Argentine put to pen to paper on a one–year deal extension with Leeds just last month, but after his side hit the ground running in their first top-flight campaign in 16 years, it seems a fourth season at Elland Road could be on the cards.

Bielsa took just two attempts to oversee Leeds' return to the promise land of the Premier League. After a third place finish in his first season, the journeyman head coach finished the job the following year by winning the Championship with a ten-point buffer over promotion rivals West Brom.

However, it was more than just the title and the points gap that thrilled Leeds fans. Bielsa recorded the club’s highest-ever points tally and the best win percentage of any manager in their history all while playing his easy on the eye, attractive brand of football.

This is now the 65-year-old's longest period with any club in his glittering 30-year managerial career and, speaking at Thursday's press conference, he showed a readiness to spend another year with the Yorkshire based club.

“I’m very comfortable living and managing in England,” he said. “Annual contracts does not mean I am not open to staying here longer.”

While it seems unrealistic to expect any news of a fresh contract in the near future, United fans will certainly take some comfort from the reassuring words of their cult hero and will be hoping both to see Bielsa back in their dugout next season and that the said dugout remains a Premier League dugout.

Leeds travel to Villa Park on Friday night to take on Aston Villa, the Premier League’s only team still with a 100% record intact.