Sport nationBielsa’s Brutal Honesty: Former Leeds United Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan Recounts Shocking Encounter
Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure at Leeds United was marked by an unyielding commitment to excellence, and a recent revelation from former goalkeeper Andy Lonergan provides a stark illustration of the Argentine’s demanding nature.
In an interview on the “I Had Trials Once” podcast, Lonergan shared a remarkable anecdote highlighting Bielsa’s unwavering dedication to his vision. The incident occurred during Bielsa’s first summer at the helm, when Lonergan was still on the books.
“The summer Bielsa came in and as soon as his name got mentioned, I got a message off the director of football, Victor Orta… ‘we need a chat’. He’s like ‘yeah, he doesn’t want you’,” Lonergan recalled.
A seemingly innocuous encounter in the Thorp Arch canteen proved pivotal. One of Bielsa’s coaching staff intervened, confiscating Lonergan’s breakfast plate.
“First day I got in, sat down with my breakfast, got some butter for my toast and went to have my coffee, someone took my plate off me. He’s like ‘you can’t have butter, you’re too fat’, so I’m like ‘are you taking the ****?'”
This blunt assessment sealed Lonergan’s fate.
“Three days later, I got paid up. Worked out well,” he reflected.
Lonergan’s experience underscores Bielsa’s ruthless approach, which ultimately contributed to Leeds United’s promotion in 2020. The Argentine’s high expectations and intense training regimen transformed the squad, but some players, like Lonergan, were left behind.
As Leeds United navigates the Championship under Daniel Farke, Bielsa’s legacy serves as a reminder that success often requires tough decisions and unwavering commitment.
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