Decoding Bielsa

Marcelo Bielsa represents a striking landmark in the history of Argentine football. The support that his body of work inspires goes well beyond the performance of his teams. Without accumulating a mountain of accomplishments, he has nevertheless become a coach with a cult following, both in Argentina and abroad, because of what he represents and not necessarily because of what he's achieved. If other coaches have managed to become accepted for their football principles, the man from Rosario has gone a step further: he is adored for his values more than for his results. In that area, it goes without saying, he is unbeatable. Pablo Vignone has undertaken the task of decoding Bielsa through meticulous monitoring of the statements he has made in the exclusive interviews he gave until 1998, the press conferences he's given (and to which he has become so fond, in order to be fair to those who want to hear him speak), and his masterful lectures with their fabulous didactic spirit. All in an attempt to construct a full understanding of the man behind the coach. To strip him down to his character, dismantle his mechanisms, delve into his contradictions, try to shed light on his controversial moments, and portray the complex profile of his personality in all its dimensions. This is a Bielsa who speaks for himself, without double-talk, about what he knows, what he feels, and what he expects. Grouped thematically, his statements reveal his concerns, passions, convictions, and weaknesses. When read with a critical eye, they reveal the substance of his character. This book is, in short, a novel way of examining this leading actor on the recent stage of world football, an actor who still maintains his passion and love for the ball.