Stuart Dallas can only just count on two hands the number of Leeds United managers he had during his time with the club.
Not including caretakers, Stuart Dallas has had 10 Leeds United managers, including Steve Evans, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce among others in a revolving door system for many a year at Elland Road.
But one man made himself into something special after Dallas became ‘invincible’ under Marcelo Bielsa’s tutelage. The utility man was able to operate as a full-back or in midfield, having been a winger prior to Bielsa’s arrival.
Of course, he has since retired, and he is now a pundit where Dallas also praised Daniel Farke’s decisions throughout the season and Dallas believes Leeds should hang on to Farke for longer. They are two fantastic managers in their own right.
Stuart Dallas dismisses Bielsa and Farke comparison
The Northern Irish Leeds hero also praised Raphinha but he provided his thoughts on comparisons between Bielsa and Farke, stating: People compare the squad now to what it was back then and compare the manager now to Bielsa.
“It’s completely different. Bielsa laid the foundations and the club is where it is now because of him.
“So, I think it’s really hard to compare the two things. That group of players we had, we were just a normal group of lads who bought into everything.
“But the work that Daniel has done now, it’s incredible. The points tally they’ve got in the last two seasons. It’s alright saying he’s had the quality and got the money to spend, but you still have to perform and the club have done that.
“To try and compare him to Bielsa, it’s a big difference. Each great within their own rights”
Then, on Farke in the Premier League, Dallas added: “Because people are judging him on his past form at Norwich. It’s like everybody — you make a mistake, you learn from it.
“Yes, I know last year, they didn’t achieve promotion. You can talk about 90 points all you want but he did get promoted this year. People say about not changing your style of play. Well, he hasn’t had to change it because they’ve won the league at a canter, really.
“Come on, they’ve got 100 points. You can’t argue with that? Can you? Next year is a different ball game. They have to adapt because they are not gonna see 65-70% of possession.
“But let’s see how the summer goes and the recruitment side of things; full faith in everybody.”
Stuart Dallas’ story should inspire Leeds players this summer
Dallas hit the highest of heights in his time under Bielsa at Elland Road. He won the Player of the Year award in 2021 but he was so much more than that to the team.
In 2016, 2020, and 2021 he also won the Players’ Player of the Year, with the versatile midfielder able to operate in so many different roles to plug the gaps.
His mentality, work-rate, and selflessness on the pitch, and discipline off the pitch helped to take him beyond where even he thought he could go. He epitomised that era of the club more than any other player in it, in all truth.
That is why he will be remembered forever in West Yorkshire as a modern-day club legend. He should be an inspiration to any new signings this summer.
