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.

During the recent Leeds United tour of Australia - where the Championship outfit played at Optus Stadium in Perth and BankWest in Sydney - the Argentine manager told media of his admiration for Australia’s credentials as an up and comer on the international scene.

Bielsa was first in the mix for the national team job around 10 years ago.

Talcevski for his part is convinced Bielsa could be a game-changer for the Socceroos if he was given the role after the current Arnold era.

Though of course there’d be the financial side, with Bielsa’s large staff likely to join him.

It would require a large financial commitment from the FFA.

“Some coaches will come and go without adding too much, but with Bielsa, he’ll definitely generate not only interest but the discussion around football and how it can be approached.

“That is something perhaps we haven’t had with previous international coaches," he added. 

After his career wound down in 2006 in Malta, Talcevski began his coaching journey, which took him to clubs around the world.

Each year, Talcevski roams the globe spending around six weeks a year at clubs and with coaches he can learn from.

He’s since worked in the junior and youth development system with FFA and FNSW in the Skillaroos program, but more importantly has worked with some emerging Aussie talents including Isaac Danzo at Levante in Spain, Joel King at Sydney FC, Con Ouzounidis from Everton, Tyrese Francios at Fulham FC and the highly-rated Rami Najjarine at Melbourne City (where he helped develop his skills at the FNSW Institute / FFA Skillaroos).

Talcevski added: “After watching Bielsa’s sessions and seeing him first hand, no doubt that I came away looking at football in another way. Not to copy him but to understand him.

“As coaches, we need to be open to other methods."