Uruguay have appointed football legend Diego Forlán as their new head coach, with the former striker taking charge of La Celeste following the departure of Marcelo Bielsa.
Forlán returns to the national team in a new role after enjoying a legendary playing career with Uruguay. The 47-year-old will be hoping to use his experience and knowledge of the national setup to help the team rebuild and move forward after a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign.
The former Manchester United and Atlético Madrid forward is one of the biggest names in Uruguayan football history. He scored 36 goals in 112 appearances for his country and was a key figure during Uruguay’s memorable run to the 2010 World Cup semi-finals.
Forlán was also awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup, while he helped Uruguay win the Copa América in 2011.
The forward faces a completely different challenge from the dugout.
His task will be to develop the next generation of Uruguayan talent, restore confidence within the squad and build a team capable of competing at the highest level.
The appointment also gives Forlán an opportunity to establish himself as one of the country’s leading coaches after previously working with clubs including Peñarol and Atenas.
Uruguay will now enter a new era under one of their most iconic players, with supporters hoping Forlán can reproduce some of the magic he delivered on the pitch from the touchline.