Forlán named Uruguay manager after Bielsa's World Cup exit

Forlán takes over after World Cup disaster

Diego Forlán is the new Uruguay manager. The federation moved fast after the group-stage exit, handing the icon a contract through March 2027 (2). Marcelo Bielsa is out, and the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner takes his first senior national-team job with no prior head-coaching experience (2). Forlán's appointment lands as a direct response to a tournament that shook the program, group-stage elimination, captain Federico Valverde publicly saying he was not up to it, and a squad that never found rhythm.

Fan reactions

The mood is cautious. On Reddit, the signing reads as a federation move to buy goodwill after the Bielsa collapse, less about experience, more about the name. Some call it a gamble designed to calm a fanbase that saw the team fail to beat Cape Verde and slip out in the group stage. The contract length, only through March 2027, leaves no doubt this is a short leash. See the full discussion.