The life of Marcelo Bielsa is rarely dull but even by his standards these past few days have been eventful. Contractual disagreements with Marseille were confounded by a surprise opening day defeat to Caen in Ligue 1 and moments after the match, Bielsa announced his resignation to the stunned press unbeknown to his own players. The 60-year-old had proved hugely popular with supporters at the Stade Velodrome but is already back in Argentina amid rumours that he was poised to take the Mexico national team job. Bielsa has poured water on this and El Tri will now look elsewhere leaving the future of El Loco uncertain once again.

The football crazed city of Marseille matched with the inspirational, passionate and hugely unpredictable Marcelo Bielsa was perfect. For a year it worked, despite some slight grievances, which frankly with Bielsa is to be expected, but for all the unity with the supporters it was likely to end badly and on Saturday it did just that.

The future of Bielsa had already been a source of intense speculation throughout the summer and after Mexico parted ways with Miguel Herrera this only increased. However, Bielsa distanced himself and Marseille prepared as normal for Saturday’s Ligue 1 opener against Caen. Guiding Les Olympiens to fourth last season this was expected to be a relatively straight-forward three points but after Marseille fell to defeat, Bielsa surprised everyone, including his own players, by handing in his resignation.

Bielsa told reporters in the post-match press conference: “I have resigned from my post as manager of Marseille.” This, just moments after presenting club president Vincent Labrune with his official letter of resignation, and still news to the players in the dressing room. The reason behind this not being the defeat, nor interest from elsewhere but over changes to his deal that had been agreed with the club earlier in the week.

In the letter Bielsa explained: “I am sad and frustrated. I cannot accept the situation of instability at the club.

“We had reached an agreement on a contract extension for 2016-2017, which was missing just a signature.

“They wanted to change the contract. I took this final decision as working together requires a minimum of trust, which we do not have.

“Even if I don’t think you wanted this, what’s happened comes with your authority, I think you know what’s gone on.”

Needless to say Labrune and the club question Bielsa’s version of events and ultimately have said that, “Marseille possess a sufficiently rich history to refuse to surrender to the rule of one man.” Labrune said that he was shocked by the departure after agreeing to the terms during the meeting on Wednesday but if there is one thing about Bielsa is that he is honest and resolute. His relationship with clubs is always built on trust and projects that the 60-year-old feels he can grow. This relation with Labrune obviously broke down and in the most Bielsa-like of ways he simply informed the press and left.

His departure caused rumours of taking over the Mexico job intensify with talks of Bielsa already agreeing to the move and only needing to iron out personal terms despite his own claim that “My work here is over, I will return to my country. I am not leaving here to take another job.”

This much is true for the timebeing, with Bielsa already back in Argentina to relax with his family and reportedly declining an approach from the FMF regarding the Mexico job.

Having discussed the West Ham opening in the summer it is probably only a matter of time before another club comes knocking for El Loco. His first love, Newell’s Old Boys recently hired the inexperienced Lucas Bernardi and have got off to a rocky start but surely a return to La Lepra is not possible.

Mexico, meanwhile, are moving onto new targets, principally Ricardo Ferretti and Jorge Sampaoli but with a whole host of names bandied around it is still anyone’s guess.