FORMER Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa is poised to return to management – with Bolivia's national team.

The Argentine boss parted company with Leeds last month following a run of four straight defeats.

However Bielsa, 66, is still revered at Elland Road after leading the club back to the Premier League.

Bolivia have failed to qualify for this year's World Cup finals, with a 3-0 loss to Colombia on Thursday sealing their fate.

And national FA president Fernando Costa has declared his aim to recruit the former Argentina and Chile coach to replace Cesar Farias.

Costa said: "We are in contact with Marcelo Bielsa. I won't deny that we are in touch with him.

"We have not yet had a meeting, but we are close to speaking with him.

"We are speaking with a number of coaches, including national team managers, and listening to what they have to offer.

"Once we have a sheaf of proposals we will evaluate them.

"It is important to know how much money we have available for our national teams.

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"We want to give them our full support. Bolivia has many talented players, and we are not far off reaching a World Cup finals."

Nicknamed El Loco, Bielsa took Leeds to a Championship title in 2020 and a ninth-place Premier League finish last year.

He has also managed Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Lazio and Lille as well as clubs in Argentina and Mexico.

Bolivia last qualified for a World Cup finals in 1994, when they went out at the group stage in the United States.