Paraag Marathe has revealed that the San Francisco 49ers played a key role in Marcelo Bielsa's appointment at Leeds United.
The president of the 49ers' investment arm is keen to increase the stake the NFL club own in Leeds, which currently stands at around 10 per cent.
Whilst that was not enough to give the 49ers much of a say over who Andrea Radrizzani should appoint as manager when Bielsa came to the club in 2018, Marathe has detailed how he helped the Whites owner's process in finding a new manager.
Marathe explained that he shared the 49ers' process for appointing a coach with Radrizzani, who was able to identify Bielsa as the perfect fit for manager.
He told the Telegraph: "We had put a process together in the selection and hiring of our head coach Kyle Shanahan and that has gone tremendously well.
"We looked at certain things, identified certain traits and went through a process that were good indicators of success for a head coach – things like leadership, vision, personality.
"Then we interviewed and measured candidates measured on those traits.
“And, yes, I shared all of that with Andrea and in detail as to what the secret sauce was for us, but I know Andrea was absolutely committed to bringing in Bielsa.
"Bielsa is focused and committed to his beliefs in what he wants to do. He is very similar to Andrea.
"Leadership doesn’t always need words, it needs action, it’s about following the North Star sometimes and Bielsa has been Leeds’ North Star."
Marathe also paid tribute to Radrizzani's focus and desire to succeed, revealing his happiness that a previous attempt at investing in Leeds failed to materialise as it eventually enabled him to work with the Italian at Elland Road.
He said: "It was probably two or three ownership groups back, GFH Capital, and we formed a strategic partnership and everything… that deal never materialised.
"Actually, it was quite fortunate for me that it didn’t, but that sort of showcased my interest in Leeds.
"Fast forward two or three years later and I was introduced by a mutual friend to Andrea.
"It was before he had purchased Leeds and the friend just said we seemed like mutual-minded people and may share a professional kinship, so why don’t you get together?
"I think it was about six to nine months later that he purchased Leeds. I called him up and said I’ve been interested in this club for a long time and I’d like to get involved.
"Andrea has such vision, it is something I admire about him greatly. He’s one of those guys with such tremendous willpower that he sees something and he is either going to succeed or he is going to die trying.
"But people follow that, they admire that."
