Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that he owes Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa 'everything' and views him as a second father.
Bielsa famously discovered a young Pochettino when he was scouting for Argentinian side Newell's Old Boys, coming to his house in the night and deciding the 13-year-old 'looked like a footballer'.
They worked together at Newell's, and Bielsa also managed him while he was in charge of the Argentinian national team and at Espanyol.
As part of an interview in Gazzetta dello Sport (via SportWitness), Pochettino was asked about the 63-year-old and he thinks about when his name is mentioned.
He responded: 'I was 13 when Bielsa and Jorge Griffa took me from a small town called Murphy and brought me to Newell's. He gave me my debut.
'He's like my second father. We were also together at Espanyol and in the national team. I owe him everything.'
Pochettino leads Spurs into a game against Inter Milan on Wednesday night and admitted Bielsa gave him significant advice when he found out he wanted to be a manager.
He added: 'When I was still young, he asked me if I wanted to become a manager, and I answered yes.
'He then told me, "Mauricio, you need to manage your career and if you want to become a manager, you have to do it the way you want to, and never copy someone else or do what others do.
'"You have to always find your own path, through your emotions and how you feel".
'Bielsa wins you over with what he does. and knows how to make you passionate. That's the best thing he gave me.'
