Diego Forlán’s appointment signals a fresh start for Uruguay’s Celeste

Uruguay has named 47‑year‑old former striker Diego Forlán as the new head coach of the Celeste, replacing Marcelo Bielsa after the South American side’s disappointing World Cup group‑stage exit. The appointment, announced today, gives the national team a fresh direction under a player who scored 36 goals in 112 matches.

During his playing days, Forlán featured for Atletico Madrid and Inter, and was part of Uruguay’s 2011 Copa America‑winning squad.

He will oversee both the senior national side and the Under‑20 team, which is set to compete in a continental tournament in January 2027.

Forlán’s coaching résumé is brief: he managed CA Peñarol in Uruguay’s first division for 11 matches in 2020 and has only coached in the second tier since.

Bielsa, who had been in charge for three years, was dismissed following Uruguay’s poor performance at the World Cup and an early group‑stage elimination.

Olivera reported that the appointment marks a new chapter for L'Uruguay, with the Celeste now under the guidance of a former Serie A striker.

The news appeared on La Stampa, was highlighted by Google Discover, and cited Fonti as a preferred source, with references to A− and A+ ratings.