Nicknamed "El Loco", passed in France by Marseille or Lille, Bielsa has already managed the selections of Argentina (1998-2004) and Chile (2007-2011).

"We have reached an agreement", "the differences in wording have been settled and all that remains is the signing of the contract", the details of which have not been revealed, Jorge Casales, a member of the AUF Executive Council, told AFP.

La Celeste have not had a coach since the end of Diego Alonso's contract after the elimination in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Alonso had taken the reins of the selection, then routed during the South American qualifiers for Qatar, replacing Oscar Tabarez (2006-2021) at the end of his reign.

Marcelo Bielsa, 67, will lead his first games in June in two friendlies to be determined, before starting three months later the South American qualifiers for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada with Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Darwin Nuñez (Liverpool) or Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) as spearheads.

He will be only the second non-Uruguayan to coach the double world champion (1930, 1950) after Daniel Passarella, another Argentine, between 1999 and 2001.

String of resignations

Known for his high standards, Bielsa asks his players for total commitment in matches and in training. He is especially renowned, and feared, for his unpredictable bloodshots, able to slam doors unceremoniously.

As in Marseille that he planted on the evening of the 1st day of the championship 2015 for a last minute change in his new contract. However, he was coming out of a season full of hope with OM, started in cannonball before experiencing hiccups and ending in 4th place.

In its string of resignations, that of Espanyol Barcelona, in 1998, resembles the Marseillaise. After six rounds, with only one match won, he left his post to take the selection of Argentina.

It was at the head of the "Albiceleste" that he experienced his most resounding failure... but without resigning. Arriving as huge favorites at the 2002 World Cup, the Argentina of Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo did not even make it past the first round (just like the France team).

Marcelo Bielsa, then coach of Lille, during a France league match in Amiens on November 20, 2017 © FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP/Archives

The native of Rosario, his hometown like Messi where since 2009 a stadium bears his name --rare--, remains at the helm despite this industrial accident and will win his greatest success with the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics at the head of the Olympic team.

But he left the Albiceleste on his own, irritated not to have the support of his federation for the provision of internationals playing in Europe.

The former sports teacher then took another selection, Chile, for four years (2007-2011) and hoisted him to the 1/8th final (eliminated by Brazil). But there too he resigned when the new president of the Federation did not please him.

His next adventure at Athletic Bilbao (2011-2013, Europa League and Spanish Cup finals) did not end with a resignation but with a non-extension of contract.

It was then that he managed 41 matches for Marseille, where he was idolized, before making a brief stint as a player. two days at Lazio in Rome, then make a sad return to France, in Lille, from February to November 2017 where he was landed for lack of results.

El "Loco" seemed to fade with age, spending three and a half seasons on the bench at Leeds before being landed again in February 2022 after 170 games. A record in addition to his early career with Newell's Old Boys (1987-1992), at the head of which he was champion of Argentina... before leaving them to everyone's surprise to try the Mexican championship (1992 to 1996).

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