Marcelo Bielsa is the new national football coach of Uruguay. The 67-year-old Argentine signed a contract until the 2026 World Cup, the association announced.
“Our audience demands play and emotions. The time has come,” said the association on Twitter, where he published videos and pictures of Bielsa.
Bielsa should lead the Uruguayans, who failed in the preliminary round at the World Cup in Qatar, to the World Cup finals in 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Bielsa most recently coached Leeds United
The first big challenge for Bielsa with the two-time world champion is next year’s Copa America in the USA. Bielsa’s first appearances are expected to be in June’s friendlies against Nicaragua and Cuba. South American World Cup qualifiers begin in September.
Bielsa coached the Argentine national team from 1998 to 2004, winning gold at the 2004 Olympic Games with the Albiceleste. In his time from 2007 and 2011 he was with Chile at the 2010 World Cup. He then worked at club level at Athletic Bilbao, Olympique Marseille and OSC Lille.
Most recently, Bielsa was under contract with Leeds United, which he led back to the English Premier League in 2020 after 16 years. After a losing streak, he was released in February 2022.