Forlan takes over as interim coach for Uruguay

Uruguay has named former striker Diego Forlan as the interim head coach of the national team. This follows the resignation of Marcelo Bielsa after a disappointing performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Uruguayan Football Association made the announcement on Sunday. Forlan steps in after Uruguay was unable to move beyond the group stage.

The two-time world champions ended up third in their group with just two points. They finished behind Spain, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia, leading to Bielsa's quick departure.

Forlan, who is 47 years old, has signed a deal that will keep him in charge until March 2027. After that, the football association will decide if they want to keep him on permanently or look for a new coach for the next World Cup cycle.

Forlan will also continue his role as head coach of the Under-20 team. They are currently preparing for the 2027 South American U-20 Championship.

Forlan returns to the national team known as one of Uruguay's greatest footballers. He played a big part in the team's journey to the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He scored five goals and won the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

At the club level, Forlan had successful times with Manchester United, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, and Internacional. He gained recognition as one of the best forwards of his time.

Now, he has the job of rebuilding Uruguay's senior team and bringing back confidence after one of the country's worst World Cup campaigns in recent memory.

Bielsa took over as Uruguay's coach in 2023. He led the team through the early stages of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

But after the team's early exit from the tournament, he resigned. This left the Uruguayan Football Association looking for a new direction as they prepare for the next international cycle.