Jané Talcevski, the former Young Socceroo who has transitioned into a youth development coach/mentor, has spent much time studying the Argentine great’s methods.

The current Rockdale Suns U18s coach sat in on training sessions when Bielsa was in charge at Athletic Bilbao in 2012.

And later at Lille, he observed “El Loco”, who was sacked by the French club in 2017 following a personal trip back home to South America.

Talcevski, 40, who holds a UEFA B licence, has also observed the super coach's methods in the UK during his time with Leeds United, Bielsa’s current club. 

“In January this year, I caught up with Bielsa in London. I watched Leeds play QPR," Talcevski told FTBL.

“It’s the way he sees the game. He can break the game down to small components and puts it back together with the collective in mind.

“Obviously, tactically he’s a genius. Ultimately he improves the individual greatly within the team collective.

“It’d be a fantastic appointment if it ever happened. What he’d give to our nation quite possible is another way of seeing football."

He added: “Bielsa’s got a belief in how he plays the game and how he communicates that.

“The teams that have done well under him have always had that spirit about them. Atletico Bilbao for example historically relied on Basque players so they have a fighting spirit.

“Not too dissimilar to Leeds. A fighting spirit, and that is what Australia has and that’s part of the fascination for Bielsa. We are an emerging nation that hasn’t got a huge history.

“And he works the best with the younger players too but blending that with older talents. It goes back to his strength of knowing his philosophy and how he would develop it.”

In some ways, a Bielsa-led Socceroos would be an extension to the Ange Postecoglou and Graham Arnold eras. 

Bielsa, for his part, has publicly stated his desire to work in this country at the highest level.