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Marcelo Bielsa has never been one to follow convention, and his latest comments as Uruguay’s manager show exactly why he continues to be one of football’s most intriguing personalities.

Throughout his long career, Bielsa has always done things his own way — whether it was sitting on an ice box during matches or famously inspecting a young Mauricio Pochettino’s legs to determine if the teenager had the makings of a professional footballer.

It’s precisely this mix of innovation and eccentricity that earned the legendary coach the nickname ‘El Loco’. Over four decades, Bielsa has blended tactical genius with unpredictable behaviour that has made him a truly unique presence in world football.

Now at the helm of Uruguay for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Bielsa once again reminded everyone why he stands apart. During his official FIFA portrait session for the tournament, his behaviour captured global attention.

While most coaches and players faced the camera with a smile or a confident pose, Bielsa defiantly looked down at the floor instead of into the lens. It was a typically Bielsa moment — understated, unconventional, and unbothered by expectations.

Asked about the strange photos following Uruguay’s 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in their Group H opener on Monday, the 70-year-old was characteristically unapologetic.

“I don’t have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken,” he said. “I’m not a model.”

He returned to the topic without prompting later on, elaborating: “There is a limit to what we need to explain. If I’m wearing glasses, why am I wearing glasses? If you look someone in the eyes, why do you do that? There’s nothing wrong with wearing glasses or looking into someone’s eyes or looking down.”

This was far from the first time Bielsa’s words as Uruguay boss made headlines. Last November, after his side’s 5-1 defeat to the USA in Florida, he held a marathon two-hour press conference that left many stunned. Facing mounting pressure, the former Leeds United manager said bluntly: “When I arrive, the environment becomes tense. That’s why I appear infrequently. I’m toxic. To associate yourself with me makes you worse off. Do you understand me?”

Such remarks would hardly surprise supporters of Leeds United, where Bielsa managed from 2018 to 2022 and led the club back into the Premier League in 2020 after a 16-year absence. His time there was marked by passion, intensity, and occasional controversy.

In January 2019, when a Leeds staff member was caught spying on Derby County’s training session, Bielsa responded not with denial but with transparency. He held a press conference revealing that Leeds had observed every opponent that season, and then spent an hour explaining his exhaustive tactical preparation in detail — a masterclass that offered a rare glimpse into his obsessive football mind.

That insight underlined why he is revered by modern greats. Pep Guardiola once hailed Bielsa as the best coach in the world, and his influence can be seen in the work of Diego Simeone, Andoni Iraola, and Mauricio Pochettino — among many others.

His connection with Pochettino began in typically eccentric fashion. While managing Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys, Bielsa reportedly turned up at the Pochettino family home in the middle of the night, woke the youngster’s parents, and after examining his legs, declared: “He has the legs of a footballer.”

From that strange meeting decades ago to his recent refusal to play along with FIFA’s portrait expectations, Bielsa has consistently stayed true to himself. His stance even drew online praise from fans who saw it as a quiet act of rebellion against what many view as the most commercialised World Cup in history.

Football has evolved dramatically since Bielsa’s early days coaching Newell’s Old Boys II in 1987, but the man himself remains unchanged — still principled, still unpredictable, and still a refreshing antidote to the excesses of the modern game.