Ex-Manchester United attacker Diego Forlan set to replace Marcelo Bielsa as interim Uruguay coach
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Former Manchester United forward Diego Forlan is set to take charge of the Uruguay national team until March 2027 and also coach the Under-20 squad.
PHOTO: AFP
Montevideo – Former Manchester United attacker Diego Forlan is set to take over on a temporary basis as new Uruguay boss, after Marcelo Bielsa left the role following a disappointing World Cup campaign.
La Celeste were knocked out in the group stage with two draws and a defeat, as the 70-year-old Argentinian took the blame for their underwhelming performances.
Uruguayan football association president Ignacio Alonso told television channel Teledoce on July 12 that Forlan was enthusiastic at the idea of taking charge, with an agreement between both parties set to be found soon.
The 47-year-old, who scored 36 goals in 112 matches for Uruguay before retiring from international football in 2015, will be in charge of the national side until March 2027. He is also the coach of the Under-20 team.
The former striker has experience coaching at just two clubs, joining Uruguayan top-flight side Penarol in 2019 and second-division team Atenas in 2021.
He was much more established as a player, winning the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup, where he was also joint-top scorer.
He won the European Golden Shoe twice and also played for the likes of Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Villarreal.
Meanwhile, Slaven Bilic was hired as Croatia coach on July 13, taking over after Zlatko Dalic’s post-World Cup departure.
It will be the 57-year-old’s second term in charge, after previously coaching them from 2006 to 2012.
“I feel fully prepared for it – as a more mature and experienced coach than in 2006, yet with the same motivation and desire to see Croatia stay powerful, bold, and successful,” Bilic said in a statement posted to the Croatian federation’s X account.
Dalic stepped down after his team were eliminated from the World Cup with a 2-1 last-32 loss to Portugal on July 2.
But the 59-year-old instilled a higher standard in Croatia by leading them to the final at the 2018 edition and a third-place finish in 2022. The federation dubbed him “the greatest Croatian coach of all time” on social media when announcing his decision to step down.
Bilic took over in 2006 after Croatia’s group-stage exit from that summer’s World Cup, but the nation then failed to qualify for the 2010 tournament under his charge.
His coaching experience includes stints with Russia’s Lokomotiv Moscow, Turkey’s Besiktas and a trio of English clubs – West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Watford.
He led West Brom to promotion to the English Premier League in 2020. His most recent coaching role was a one-year stay with Saudi Pro League club Al-Fateh from 2023 to 2024. AFP, REUTERS