There’s a lot that Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa is known for, ranging from his brilliant tactics to the Spygate controversy at Leeds United. At the beginning of the 2026 World Cup, Bielsa had the internet talking because of his reluctance to pose during a photoshoot.
Bielsa’s Uruguay were held to a 1-1 draw by a resolute Saudi Arabian side on Monday with shortcomings of La Celeste evident on every part of the pitch. Despite having 65% possession and 92% pass accuracy, Uruguay were unable to dominate the game, and only managed to draw after an 80th minute goal by Maximiliano Araujo.
🇺🇾🇸🇦 Uruguay and Saudi Arabia share points on their World Cup opener!
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 16, 2026
Who’s been your Man of the Match? pic.twitter.com/ZKMoUHSlXC
Even after this disappointing draw, fans are more interested in the manager’s comments about posing during a photoshoot for television broadcast graphics.
While team managers are very much a part of the photoshoots these days, Bielsa did not want to be associated with it. Looking to be more interested in spending precious time at a training session or analyzing matches and opponents, the manager simply stood looking down with a casual and detached countenance. When asked about it later by the media, Bielsa replied, “I’m not a model.” He clearly expressed that he did not have to describe his reasonings for it is not his job to look good on camera. “There is nothing wrong about wearing glasses or looking into somebody’s eyes or looking down,” the 70-year-old summed up. To Bielsa, the photoshoot, and then the questions asked around it, are clearly distractions away from football that he does not care about ahead of the biggest international tournament in the sport.
While many fans have been impressed by such a cool and brutally honest answer, they have been quick to point out the irony of the situation. The photo taken of Bielsa does make it look like a professional photoshoot, despite him not wanting to be or appear like a model.
Edits with a cold visual touch and his quote posted over the image have been uploaded on the internet, with many relating to both his unintentional pose as well as his honest opinion on photoshoots.
— Mo Aamen 🍉 (@mohammadaamer5) June 16, 2026
Many have found the photo appropriate to be used on the cover of an album, be it an old-school vinyl or a new-age hip-hop track.
One user has made a hilarious image with Bielsa’s photo as the cover of an album in which the tracks are relevant to his career. The image references the nickname given to the manager, ‘El loco Bielsa’, literally translating to The Madman Bielsa, for his unconventional nature and antics.
The remix 😭 pic.twitter.com/w301hAbTiF
— Futbollife 🍁⚽️ (@Futbo1life) June 17, 2026
As the recent World Cup photo shows the manager looking down, with his shoulders brooding and his hands seemingly in his pockets, some users have stretched the matter a bit further, by trying to guess what he must have been looking at so intently.
— JULITA🪱 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@aimarereslaluz) June 17, 2026
Meanwhile, one user dug up some old photographs of Bielsa from his younger days, mentioning how he did look like a model at one point in his life. In the first image, he is seen in the Newell’s Old Boys kit, where he started his career as a footballer, and later on as a manager as well.
Okay, but he basically used to be a model pic.twitter.com/qBihVINqJX
— T. (@actionactioncut) June 17, 2026
In a managerial career spanning over 35 years, Marcelo Bielsa has established himself as a master tactician and strategist. He is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential managers in the modern game, and has been an inspiration to the likes of Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Mauricio Pochettino.
Uruguay play their next match against Cabo Verde on 21st June, where Coach Bielsa will be expecting the team to perform better.
