Marcelo Bielsa lined up for Premier League return nine months after Leeds sacking
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Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is being explored by Bournemouth as a potential option to take over from interim Cherries boss Gary O’Neil on a permanent basis.
Those at the top of the club hierarchy at the Vitality have held meetings with prospective new owner Bill Foley in Las Vegas over the course of this week with who will take the reins full-time one of the more pressing topics on the agenda. O’Neil has been steering the ship since Scott Parker was dismissed from his post back in August.
Foley is yet to officially become the new owner of Bournemouth, given he is still subject to the Premier League ’s owners’ and directors’ test but the latter stages are expected to go off without a hitch.
Despite some positive results, O’Neil is unlikely to be given the role permanently and as a result Bielsa’s name has been thrown in as one of many potential appointment options. The Argentine would become the first manager of the Foley reign.
Bielsa was relieved of his Leeds duties in February of this year after his side were hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone with time running out. His successor, Jesse Marsch, managed to maintain top flight status with a dramatic victory away at Brentford on the final day of the season.
Despite the near-miss, Bielsa is widely loved by the Elland Road faithful for his achievement of getting the club promoted back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence. After a stellar effort in their first season back that saw them finish ninth, things deteriorated under the Argentine.
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Bielsa may harbour some reservations over the Bournemouth role given Parker made some interesting remarks surrounding the club’s transfer policy before his dismissal. He was sacked shortly after the humiliating 9-0 defeat away at Liverpool.
Since his departure, O’Neil has overseen 11 games at the helm, of which Bournemouth have won three and drawn four. That form sees the Cherries currently occupy 17th place in the table, with a single point separating them from the relegation zone.
Bielsa would have quite the task on his hands should he take the job. Defeat against Everton at home on the final game before the World Cup break could see O’Neil’s side drop into the bottom three over Christmas, potentially changing the landscape for a new appointment even further.