Marcelo Bielsa has finally signed his new one-year contract at Leeds.
Bielsa claimed his contract situation was resolved at his press conference yesterday lunchtime and finally put pen to paper a few hours later.
Bielsa agreed in principle to carry on at the end of last season and showed little interest in physically signing the agreement as he focused on his preparations for the new campaign.
“The contract situation is one that has already been resolved,” he said yesterday before Leeds released a statement confirming he had finally signed.
Bielsa, who took over at Elland Road in June 2019, has already been at Leeds longer than at any other club, including his beloved Newell’s Old Boys.
Leeds were always relaxed about his contract situation and the Argentine did not pen his previous one-year deal until the eve of last season.
Bielsa, 66, says he is happy to remain at Elland Road because the board have backed him in the transfer market and made the changes he wanted to the club’s infrastructure.
Junior Firpo has been signed from Barcelona for £13.2million to give him the specialist left-back he wanted and goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson to put pressure on Illan Meslier for the No 1 spot.
A new pitch has been laid at Elland Road and a similar one at Leeds’ Thorp Arch training ground with undersoil heating.
“For me, this is an extraordinary club,” he said. “It’s not often you have a club designating so much investment to the improvement of the training pitches.
“Everything we needed in this area, the club has resolved it with very high investment. Whether it be the pitches, the facilities, the technology. I’m astounded by the conduct of the club.
“The most important coaches in world football would value what this club means with organisation, structure and the fans.”
Robin Koch spoke for the players when he said he was delighted Bielsa was carrying on for at least another season.
“Yeah, of course we’re happy he’s here for another season,” said the German centre-half.
“I didn’t think he would leave, so it’s nothing surprising for me, but of course we are happy he’s going to be here for another season.”
