Known as "El Loco" [The Crazy One], Bielsa is an intense coach who transformed Chile into a younger, attacking team. In 3 1/2 years in the job, he got Chile to the second round of last year's World Cup before losing to Brazil. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images) Marcelo Bielsa resigned as Chile's national team coach on Friday, ending a three-month saga over his future.
Bielsa stepped down at a news conference despite his overwhelming popularity in Chile and attempts by new Chilean football association president Sergio Jadue to persuade him to stay.
The 55-year-old Bielsa led Chile to its most successful World Cup in almost 50 years in June.
He first announced his plans to resign three months ago when Jorge Segovia was elected president of the Chilean FA, saying he could not have a working relationship with the Spanish businessman.
Segovia's election was eventually annulled, and Jadue —since taking over last month —said he wanted to keep the popular Argentine.
Earlier in the week Jadue told reporters that he thought Bielsa would be staying.
Mauricio Etcheberry, vice-president of the Chilean association, said the country had no back-up plan.
"We don't have a 'Plan B,' and we never have had," he told the La Tercera newspaper.
Bielsa -- known as "El Loco" (The Crazy One) -- is an intense coach who transformed Chile into a younger, attacking team. In 3 1/2 years in the job, he got Chile to the second round of last year's World Cup before losing to Brazil. It was Chile's first World Cup appearance since 1998 and its best finish since Chile hosted the event in 1962.
Problems began when Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who hired Bielsa, lost to Segovia in November in a failed bid to win re-election as Chile's football association president.
Bielsa won the hearts of fans, but he also seemed to have problems with others including Chile's newly elected President Sebastian Pinera.
Pinera acknowledged he was given the cold shoulder by Bielsa at a reception after the team returned from the World Cup in South Africa. But Pinera has several times denied reports he supported the election of Segovia, a reported source of tension with Bielsa.
Former Chile President Michelle Bachelet was a strong supporter of Bielsa.
Several polls in Chile showed Pinera's popularity has slipped recently, partly attributed to his reported disagreement with Bielsa.
Three Argentines surfaced quickly as candidates for the job —former Boca Juniors coach Claudio Borghi, former Argentina national team coach Jose Pekerman and Alejandro Sabella who resigned Thursday at the coach of Argentine club Estudiantes.
