Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips are undeniably two of the biggest success stories under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, both thriving and reaching new heights in their careers thanks to his intense coaching style and tactical genius.

Before Marcelo Bielsa’s arrival, Kalvin Phillips was a divisive figure at Elland Road, with many unsure of his potential. However, under the Argentine’s guidance, Phillips transformed into one of the top holding midfielders in England, earning widespread recognition for his intelligent play and defensive prowess.

Kalvin Phillips became a key figure in Gareth Southgate’s England squad and secured a high-profile move to Manchester City, where he can forever claim a treble-winning season, even if his playing time was limited. The 28-year-old was linked with a potential return to Leeds United last summer, had they secured promotion, but has since made a surprising switch to Ipswich Town.

Though Kalvin Phillips has seemingly lost his way a bit, it was his development under Bielsa that raised his baseline ability to Premier League standards—an incredible transformation for a player once doubted to ever make it to the top flight.

As for Patrick Bamford, his career-best season came in the Premier League under Bielsa’s guidance, culminating in his first and only England cap, a feat that once seemed out of reach for the striker.