Great read and helpful drills I alter slightly for my team.
Thefootballcoach
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Coaching the Bielsa Way
A 166-page deep dive into the principles, sessions, and philosophy of Marcelo Bielsa.
"A brilliant book full of brilliant coaching sessions"
From the defining principles and formations of Bielsa's teams, to in-possession and out-of-possession characteristics, to his famous 'Beat your Marker' moves — and then into the coaching sessions themselves. Individual, unit, and team practices, all built around the question: Why?
Philosophy
Bielsa's Principles & Formations
The book opens with the key principles that define Bielsa's work — the structures and systems his teams use, and the ideas that underpin everything he does on and off the pitch.
Playing Style
In & Out of Possession Characteristics
A breakdown of Bielsa's unique playing style — what his teams do with and without the ball, the intensity he demands, and the 1v1 system that forces match-ups across the entire pitch.
Technical Detail
'Beat your Marker' Moves — U8 to Senior
Bielsa's famous 'Beat your Marker' concepts are explored and made applicable from U8 through to senior football — grounded in the fundamental technical detail of passing, receiving, and retaining that underpins everything he builds.
Coaching Sessions
Individual, Unit & Team Sessions
In-depth coaching sessions at every level — each with detailed explanations, key coaching points, progressions, and session structure — designed to create an environment where players can learn, prosper, and develop.
Game Moments
Session Plans with Clear Game Links
Every session includes clear Game Moments that connect practice directly to the match — rationale, game links, and progressions that answer the most important question in coaching: Why?
Who it's for: Coaches at all levels — U8 through to senior football · Those inspired by Bielsa's philosophy and intensity · Youth coaches — more accessible than you might expect
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Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 178 reviews.
Great read and helpful drills I alter slightly for my team.
Frank S. 5/5 Verified
Fantastic book, great layout and superb coaching sessions from the genius that is Bielsa.
Malik C. 5/5 Verified
It’s a very, very good read! It’s amazing how a coach can work so different from others but have so much success. The practices and the focus on players and individuals is incredible
Liam H. 5/5 Verified
Worth a read. Makes you realise how simple practice design can be to deliver complex and diverse returns
Holly B. 5/5 Verified
Came quick and as I’m reading it seems very good
Karl D. 5/5 Verified
Really impressed by the quality of the product
Arjun D. 5/5
Was delighted to receive this. Really good quality, great information and structure. The session plans I’ve used with my players and I believe we’ve seen improvements
Kate Q. 5/5
Really enjoying this so far. Im 86 pages in and I can’t wait to finish it. It’s been a great journey through this.
Stuart G. 5/5
Good book, good session
Duncan P. 5/5
Really enjoying this so far. Im 86 pages in and I can’t wait to finish it. It’s been a great journey through this.
Mell D. 5/5
Все супер! Книга действительно потрясающая, мне помогает
Aiden D. 5/5 Verified
Having worked in the elite game for many years, it is often hard to find new ideas. This is the most enjoyable and challenging book I’ve read for many years. A vast amount of theoretical and practical ideas for me to take on other the next micro lcycle and beyond
Leo B. 5/5
Enjoyed the idea of including transition into finishing. It's a trade of for me in realism and repetition. But this does provide an interesting though behind using Xg as an approach to creating practice
Aaron R. 5/5 Verified
Good book. Some spelling and grammatical errors - I wonder if it was translated. I would have preferred less history on Bielsa and more practice sessions and even more of a discussion on what characteristics he wants from his players physically and technically. But I enjoyed the book overall and took away some good stuff for my own team.
Marc Q. 4/5 Verified
Great insight into the mind of a brilliant coach. I have an entire different outlook on coaching now.
Glen R. 5/5 Verified
Good selection of activities that fit the match the tactical principles of Bielsa
Albert B. 5/5 Verified
Great book
Kyle K. 5/5 Verified
Love it
Toby Y. 5/5 Verified
Good book to read
Elias L. 5/5 Verified
Good book that can help serve as a coaching manual. I wanted something technical, i.e. advantages/disadvantages of various formations. Rationale & drills to coach various aspects including Passing, Pressing, Overloads, Finishing, Defending. The book is ideal for that with multiple drills included which you can pick and choose to help develop a coaching programme.
Liam W. 4/5 Verified
Such a great book, useful for every age/level .
Emil H. 5/5 Verified
Wonderful book - really informative and helpful
Arthur R. 5/5 Verified
Bielsa, my favourite!! Learn from the best
Angelo R. 5/5 Verified
No Comment
Hakan Ç. 5/5 Verified
very nice and helpfull book, easy to understand and great to dive in in a mastermind of bielsas style of play
Victor V. 5/5 Verified
Excellent product
Mateo P. 5/5 Verified
No Comment
Seb B. 5/5 Verified
If you work with kids, read this first This is the first book in coaching i've ever where it has challenged everything i believe in. It really does make you think about what you know, and what young adolescents are thinking and why they are behaving like they are
Bradley G. 5/5 Verified
Good context with good visuals
Andrew W. 5/5 Verified
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Ronald K. 5/5 Verified
No Comment
Ashley M. 5/5 Verified
No Comment
Pete H. 5/5 Verified
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Simon L. 5/5 Verified
No Comment
Kate B. 5/5 Verified
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Victor M. 5/5 Verified
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Edgar M. 4/5 Verified
Great insight into the professional game
Hamza K. 5/5 Verified
Transition is broad, a lot of attacking This includes a lot of sessions for transition, but could be a more specific counter-pressing book if honest
Archie D. 4/5 Verified
As a football coach workin in the professional game, i'd say this is the best product i've seen for personal methodology development
Zane O. 5/5 Verified
No Comment
Ella F. 5/5 Verified
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8 simple practices to help players play inside a box midfield and use the overload to exploit midfield space. Enter your email and we'll send the booklet straight to your inbox.