When Marcelo Bielsa was confirmed as Leeds United’s new manager ahead of the 2018/19 Championship season, there was both excitement and consternation. The Argentine, an immensely influential tactician who counts Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Mauricio Pochettino as former students, is a big deal in coaching, but his deep understanding of football hasn’t always translated to success....

Most top-level managers are judged on their record of delivering trophies for the teams they oversee, with reputations forged in silver and legacies defined by medal collections; style points count for something, but only if backed up by results. In that sense, then, Marcelo Bielsa’s reputation as one of the game’s great tactical minds is somewhat at odds with modern convention. The Ar...

Almost two months after sacking Pedro Caixinha, Rangers are yet to appoint a new manager. After a frenzy of speculation suggesting Derek McInnes would leave Aberdeen for Ibrox, the latest rumours are that Tony Pulis is now the club’s primary target. The names mentioned seem to point roughly in the same direction. Most, if not all, are British, and most, if not all, are deeply pragmatic. This will...