Uruguay open talks with Forlan for interim coaching
New Delhi, July 13
Former Uruguay striker Diego Forlan is in talks with the Uruguayan Football Association about taking charge of the national team on an interim basis, local media reported.
Under the proposal, Forlan would oversee six friendlies scheduled for September, October and November while also taking charge of the under-20 side. A permanent manager will be appointed at the end of the year or early next year, AUF president Ignacio Alonso said, Uruguayan newspaper El Pais reported.
"He's enthusiastic, although there are still some issues to discuss and we'll meet again in the coming hours," Alonso was quoted as saying.
Forlan is widely regarded as one of Uruguay's greatest players. During his career, he had spells at Manchester United, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan. He made 112 appearances for Uruguay and scored 36 goals.
He won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup after scoring five goals to help Uruguay reach the semifinals.
The 47-year-old's coaching experience includes spells in charge of Uruguayan clubs Penarol and Atenas.
The move comes after Marcelo Bielsa left the role in the wake of Uruguay's group-stage exit at the FIFA World Cup in June. Two-time World Cup winner Uruguay finished third in Group H after draws against Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia and a defeat to Spain.
Bielsa led Uruguay to 16 wins, 12 draws and eight losses following his appointment in May 2023. He denied widespread media reports that his relationship with the players had broken down.
"For me, this farewell is very painful because of the hopes I had when I took on this project, because of the way it ended, and because of the efforts of so many people, especially the players," the 70-year-old Argentine had said. "As for my responsibility for what happened, I think it is very clear that I cannot justify the position we finished in. In short, the way I managed the resources available to me, considering the quality of players I had, was not enough."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting to see a player with such pedigree take the coaching route. His experience at top clubs will definitely help the young Uruguay players. But interim coaching is a tricky role - he needs to balance short-term results with long-term development. Let's see if he can handle the pressure.
Bielsa's statement was quite honest - he accepted responsibility. That's rare in football these days. Forlan has big shoes to fill though. India should take notes on how football associations handle transitions professionally. We keep making the same mistakes with our coaches. 🙄
Forlan was my childhood hero! That 2010 World Cup performance was magical. But coaching is a different skill - his previous stints at Penarol and Atenas weren't that great. Hope he proves everyone wrong. Uruguay needs someone who understands their football culture.
Smart approach by Uruguay - giving a legend a chance while searching for a permanent solution. This is how you build a football culture. In India, we keep hiring foreign coaches who don't understand our players. Need to develop homegrown talent and coaching pathways first. Just my two rupees! 😊
Forlan as interim manager? Interesting gamble. His lack of top-level coaching experience worries me, but he was a student of the game as a player. The friendlies will be a good test. If he can motivate the under-20s, that's a win for Uruguay's future.
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