Uruguay’s national soccer team has secured the services of Marcelo Bielsa as their coach, according to an executive from the country’s soccer association.
Jorge Casales, a member of the association’s executive committee, confirmed that the former Leeds manager has agreed to a contract that will extend until the 2026 World Cup.
Casales stated that the deal is nearly complete, with only the formal signature remaining. The 67-year-old Bielsa is expected to arrive in Montevideo in the coming days.
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His tenure is set to begin with friendly matches against Nicaragua and Cuba in June, followed by the start of South American World Cup qualifying in September. Casales emphasized the significance of bringing in Bielsa, noting that they anticipate his influence extending beyond the duration of a match. Uruguay aims to benefit from his experience and leave a lasting legacy.
Bielsa previously coached the Argentina national team from 1998 to 2004, leading them to the group stage exit in the 2002 World Cup and winning the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
He also had a successful tenure coaching Chile from 2007 to 2011. Having managed clubs such as Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, and Lille, Bielsa has been without a job since his departure from Leeds in February 2022.
The negotiations with Bielsa took three months to finalize, according to Casales.