Marcelo Bielsa, the 67-year-old former Leeds United manager, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Uruguay national team. Bielsa had been out of football management for nearly 15 months since leaving Leeds. The Uruguayan Football Association confirmed his appointment on a contract that will run until the 2026 World Cup.
Bielsa takes over from Diego Alonso, whose contract expired after Uruguay’s surprising early exit from the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar earlier this season.
Previously, Bielsa managed the Argentina national team from 1998 to 2004 and had a successful four-year tenure as the head coach of Chile. His time at Leeds United saw him guide the team back to the Premier League from the Championship in 2020, earning him a place in the club’s history as one of the most beloved managers.
Despite his departure from Leeds in February of the following year due to a series of league defeats, Bielsa’s extensive managerial career has included notable spells with Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, and Lille.
Uruguay is currently ranked 16th in FIFA’s world rankings, and Bielsa’s first major campaign in charge will be the Copa America in the United States next year.
