Danny Binks says the tattoo reminds him of things that ‘saved his life’.
A Leeds United fan has got a tattoo commemorating the club’s manager Marcelo Bielsa and the “spygate” scandal.
Danny Binks said the cartoon of Bielsa peering over a hedge with binoculars, tattooed on to his right forearm, helps him deal with depression.
“I got the tattoo purely based on the point that the image makes me happy,” the 23-year-old from Pudsey told the Press Association. “The idea with the tattoos is they now cover over scars from self harm from a recent battle with depression.”
The artwork was originally created by Yorkshire Post graphic artist Graeme Bandeira, after spying allegations were aimed at Bielsa.
Eleven Championship clubs have complained to the English Football League about the Argentine manager, who admitted having Leeds’ Championship opponents watched in training this season, having had a member of his staff caught in the act by Derby County.
“It’s an amusing satire of the situation,” Mr Binks said of the cartoon. “Spygate has been blown out of all proportion as many pundits have said this is nothing new.
“(It) has only strengthened my belief in Bielsa. He is the best manager we’ve had since Howard Wilkinson, in my opinion.”
Bielsa called journalists to a presentation last Wednesday following the allegations, illustrating his in-depth analysis in the hope of showing his research is so thorough that he gained no advantage from watching Derby train.
Mr Binks said the new ink, along with other football-related tattoos such as the logo for the video game Football Manager (FM), are nods to passions that saved his life.
“Now when I look at my arm I only see a game that rescued me from the dark depths and a manager that’s brought more excitement to my Leeds United-supporting life than I can ever remember, and those will allow me to rethink any actions I may have been thinking of doing,” he said.
“In a way football in general, Football Manager and Leeds United have saved my life.
“All my friends and family think it’s an interesting tattoo. They support my decision to battle depression in this way.”
With each goal in his career-best scoring run, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is advancing his claims for a recall to the England squad ahead of the World Cup.
The striker netted for the sixth straight game to earn Leeds a 1-1 draw at Sunderland, which missed a chance to climb to fifth place in the Premier League on Sunday.
By staying injury-free and being on the hottest streak as a professional, Calvert-Lewin is making a convincing case to be Harry Kane's back-up for England for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
His equalizer at the Stadium of Light came in the 47th minute and was a trademark close-range, one-touch finish, turning in a cross from U.S. forward Brenden Aaronson.
Calvert-Lewin has eight goals in the league, more than any other English player.
“I am feeling good, feeling fit, strong and enjoying playing with the lads,” said Calvert-Lewin, who last played for England as a substitute at the European Championship in 2021 and experienced injury issues before leaving Everton over the summer.
“Lots of ups, lots of downs, you know, tests of character and I have hung in there and kept going and kept pushing back myself, and here I am now.”
Simon Adingra gave Sunderland the lead in the 28th minute by running onto a clever pass behind the full back by Granit Xhaka and bending a right-foot shot inside the far post.
It was a match between two promoted teams, with seventh-place Sunderland faring the better so far this season.
Leeds is, though, now on a five-match unbeaten run and has moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Tottenham picked up a second win in nine league games by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 away thanks to Archie Gray's first-half header.
The victory eased some of the pressure on Spurs manager Thomas Frank and lifted the team to 11th — four points off fifth-place Chelsea.
Gray nodded home in the 42nd minute after a corner to the far post was headed back into the middle of the area.
Palace has lost three league games in a row and might be struggling to deal with its increased fixture load brought about by its involvement in the UEFA Conference League.
Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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Tottenham's head coach Thomas Frank waits for the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur in London, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Tottenham's Archie Gray controls the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur in London, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Sunderland's Simon Adingra, center, scores their side's first goal of the game past Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri during the English Premier League soccer match in Sunderland, England, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Sunderland's Omar Alderete battles for the ball against Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, right, during the English Premier League soccer match in Sunderland, England, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, center, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match in Sunderland, England, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
