Former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has become the latest player to sing the praises of Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa, insisting that he wishes he could have played for longer under the Argentinian's stewardship.
Mascherano, currently on the books of Argentinian outfit Estudiantes de La Plata, was awarded his Argentina debut back in 2003 by Bielsa, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2-2 draw against Uruguay.
That was the first of 145 appearances the 35-year-old, who can operate at either defensive-midfield or centre-back, would make for his country.
But just over a year after being awarded his first taste of international football at senior level, Mascherano's time working with Bielsa was over, with the now-Leeds chief, who will be desperate to guide his side to promotion if the Championship season is allowed to resume next month, deciding to stand down from the position at the end of 2004.
Though his time working with the 64-year-old was not particularly long, Mascherano, who spent four years playing in the Premier League for West Ham United and Liverpool before moving to Barcelona in 2010, believes he is amongst the best managers he has ever had the privilege of working under, despite having worked with the likes of Rafa Benitez and Pep Guardiola.
“Surely he is among the best I have ever had," Mascherano told Argentinian media outlet Ole. "The problem is that I had Marcelo at a very young age and when you are so young you can retain little.
"I would have liked to have had him much more mature.
“My consideration for a coach who bet on me without having made his debut in a first-team is very high. I hold Marcelo in very high esteem.
"I was left with the thorn of not having had it longer and being more mature.”
Mascherano is not the first high-profile player to have heaped praise on Bielsa's shoulders, with Bayern Munich midfielder Javi Martinez having previously revealed just how much he admires the Leeds boss' work.
Martinez told Goal: "My admiration for Marcelo Bielsa is huge because he makes the players much, much better.
"Still, I didn't meet one guy, a former player from Marcelo Biesla who speaks no good about him. They are grateful about his influence on their careers in football.
"He helped me a lot with his advice. Whenever I speak with him I always feel like he wants to help me.
"It is important for me to say this about Marcelo because it doesn't matter how many titles he had in his career. We are judged by that, how much success we have, how many titles we have won.
