Marcelo Bielsa Resigns as Lazio Manager: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Marcelo Bielsa resigned as Lazio manager on Friday just two days after being appointed as the Serie A side's new coach.

In an official statement (via Football Italia), Lazio expressed "astonishment" at the 60-year-old Argentinian's decision to go back on his commitment to the club and revealed that Simone Inzaghi will act as his replacement:

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We acknowledge with astonishment the resignation of Marcelo Bielsa, inclusive of his collaborators, in blatant violation of the deal agreed via the contracts signed last week and lawfully deposited with the Lega and the FIGC, according to all the related procedures.

The club reserves the right to take all actions that will protect its rights, and hands the leadership of the team during the preparatory training to Simone Inzaghi.

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Per Football Italia's report, Lazio "can now be expected to take legal action against Bielsa," who also resigned abruptly as Olympique de Marseille manager following an opening-day Ligue 1 defeat last season to Caen.

Serie A expert Tancredi Palmeri speculated that Bielsa may now take up the vacant position as manager of the Argentina national side following Gerardo Martino's decision to quit the job on Tuesday:

Bielsa previously held the post of Albiceleste boss from 1998 to 2004, leading Argentina to an Olympic gold medal at the Athens Games before resigning his post.

His appointment as Argentina manager back in 1998 also came after he unexpectedly ended a short spell with Espanyol, per Squawka:

Having taken over as manager following the sacking of Stefano Pioli in April, Inzaghi was supposed to move to Serie B side Salernitana, but he will now remain at Lazio, per Italian football writer James Horncastle:

The Rome outfit could only finish eighth in the Italian top flight last season, but there had been optimism about the upcoming campaign, with Horncastle describing Bielsa's appointment as a "coup" for Lazio.

However, there is now major uncertainty at the club, who will need to search for another manager capable of improving their prospects in the 2016-17 Serie A season.