Arabic version: تعيين دييغو فورلان مدرباً مؤقتاً لمنتخب أوروغواي
According to BBC News, former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan has agreed to become Uruguay head coach on an interim basis following Marcelo Bielsa’s departure. The 47-year-old will take charge of the national team’s friendlies this autumn.
Forlan succeeds Bielsa after Uruguay failed to progress from the group stage at the World Cup. Bielsa, a 70-year-old Argentine, had led the side since May 2023 and won 15 of his 39 matches in charge. After the early World Cup exit, he said his tenure “left nothing behind”.
Uruguay plan to appoint a permanent manager at the end of this year or at the start of 2027. Forlan has also been named coach of Uruguay’s Under-20 team alongside his role with the senior side.
As a player, Forlan scored 36 goals in 112 appearances for Uruguay and won the Golden Ball when the team reached the 2010 World Cup semi-finals in South Africa. He retired from international football in March 2015 and ended his club playing career in 2018 after representing 10 clubs, including memorable spells with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. His coaching experience includes brief stints at Uruguayan clubs Penarol and Atenas.
