Uruguay’s Football Association has confirmed the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as the new coach to lead the team until the end of the 2026 World Cup. The 67-year-old Argentine coach is known for his tactical mind and has made a name for himself in the football world. The association took to Twitter to celebrate Bielsa’s inauguration, stating that their people want “gameplay and emotion” and that the time has come.
Bielsa’s first match with the team is expected to be in June, where Uruguay will be playing friendly matches against Nicaragua and Cuba. Bielsa has previously coached the Argentina national team from 1998 to 2004, where his team lost in the group stages of the 2002 World Cup but won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He also coached Chile from 2007 to 2011, and has played for various football clubs including Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, and Lille.
Bielsa was out of a job since February 2022 when he was sacked by Leeds. Uruguay had a disappointing performance at the last year’s Qatar World Cup and will be hoping for a better outcome under Bielsa’s leadership.