Bielsa's Dream XI: Picking 'El Loco's' Greatest Hits in His Trademark 4-1-4-1

With Marcelo Bielsa steering Uruguay into a blockbuster clash against Thomas Tuchel's England at Wembley, it's the perfect moment to dust off the tactics board. The Argentine maestro, whose obsessive style has left a trail of heartbroken fans – the so-called 'Bielsa widows' – at clubs like Newell's Old Boys, Chile, Athletic Bilbao and Leeds United, deserves his ultimate XI. We're building it in his beloved 4-1-4-1, cherry-picking from decades of chaos and brilliance. Inspired by original reporting from Planet Football at OneFootball, here's our take on the mad professor's all-stars.

Rock-Solid Defence: No Nonsense at the Back

Starting between the sticks, Claudio Bravo edges it as the top shot-stopper. Sure, Bielsa's goalkeepers have rarely been world-beaters – think Pablo Cavallero or Leeds' rotation policy – but Bravo's steel was forged under El Loco with Chile. He hit the big time later, nailing penalties in Copa America triumphs over Argentina, and even tweeted his love for Bielsa during Leeds' 2020 promotion party: impossible is nothing, mate.

Right-back goes to Andoni Iraola, Athletic Club's loyal skipper during Bielsa's Basque revolution. Hats off to Javier Zanetti, Bielsa's Argentina ever-present, but Iraola's relentless overlapping terrorised foes – poor Patrice Evra knows all about it. Now managing Bournemouth, he's carrying the torch.

Centre-back duo? Mauricio Pochettino pairs perfectly with Fernando Gamboa. Poch's Bielsa origin story is pure legend: the coach rocked up at his house at 1am to inspect a 13-year-old's legs, convincing his folks with a cheeky sales pitch. From Newell's glory days to his own managerial stardom, he's indispensable. Gamboa, another Newell's hero from their Copa Libertadores near-miss and double Argentine titles, adds grit – he even bossed Argentina's 1991 Copa America win alongside Diego Simeone and a young Gabriel Batistuta.

Left-back: Jean Beausejour from Chile's golden era. The ex-Wigan man netted their first World Cup goal in 46 years against Honduras in 2010. Stuart Dallas gets a nod for versatility, but Beausejour's the pick.

Midfield Mayhem: Engines That Never Quit

Defensive midfield anchor? Kalvin Phillips, the poster boy for Bielsa magic. From Leeds' Championship utility man to England's Euro 2020 Player of the Year, his rocket rise (and later stumbles) screams transformation. 'The best manager ever,' Phillips called him post-Man City move. Javier Mascherano's Olympic gold edges the CV, but Phillips embodies the method.

Right-sided wide man: Markel Susaeta, Athletic's unsung assassin with 24 goals and 24 assists in 109 Bielsa games – only Patrick Bamford matched that haul at Leeds. Swapping in talisman Pablo Hernandez hurts, but Bielsa ditched him in the Prem anyway.

Central mids: Federico Valverde and Mateusz Klich. Fede's lung-busting runs – remember that Real Madrid masterclass vs City? – scream Bielsa box-to-box. Pity the reported Uruguay friction; sort it for the World Cup, lads. Klich gets the nod over Dimitri Payet, who bizarrely peaked under Bielsa at Marseille with 21 assists in 38 games. The Pole's Leeds tenacity seals it.

Frontline Firepower and the Full Picture

The source teases more, but in true Bielsa spirit, this XI thrives on pressing ferocity and verticality. Imagine them swarming Wembley: Bravo barking orders, Poch and Gamboa bullying, Phillips shielding, Valverde rampaging. It's a 'what if' squad blending South American steel, Basque hustle and English graft.

Bielsa's gift? Elevating the ordinary to extraordinary. From Newell's trophies to Leeds' promotion euphoria, his fingerprints are everywhere. As Uruguay face the Three Lions, picture El Loco plotting chaos. Fancy a pint to debate the bench? Hernandez, Zanetti, Payet and Mascherano are fighting for spots. Who's your tweak?

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