Though a World Cup title eluded him, he was the pivotal figure on the Netherlands' 1974 national team that electrified the sport with its total football tactics, with players constantly interchanging roles.
Like many, Bielsa became fascinated with the Total Football philosophy pioneered by Rinus Michels with the Dutch side in the 1970s.
The plans called for a "strict wage structure with a basic salary and attractive bonuses", with a "total football philosophy" across every team, from youth level up to the first team, citing Ajax, Porto and Swansea as examples to follow.
Rinus Michels, who is credited with inventing Total Football, wasn't called "The General" for nothing.
Blame it on that Holland side that seduced the planet with its Total Football in the 1974 World Cup but then lost in the final to dour old West Germany.
"In answer to that, the Under-21s went to Holland - Holland, with their total football, have been one of the best countries in the world, let alone Europe, in producing younger players and Scotland went there and won 2-1.
The phrase most associated with him is "total football", a fluid system in which no player occupies any fixed outfield role.
February 9 , 1928Amsterdam, Netherlands March 3, 2005 Aalst, Belgium Rinus Michels, in full Marinus Hendrikus Jacobus Michels (born Feb. 9, 1928, Amsterdam, Neth. died March 3, 2005, Aalst, Belg.) Dutch football (soccer) player and coach credited with having created "total football," an aggressive style of play in which players adapt, shift positions, and improvise on the field as needed.
Holloway claims they play "total football" with players constantly inter-changing positions and are thus the Championship's answer to Holland.
