Diego Forlán appointed interim head coach of Uruguay
Diego Forlán was appointed interim manager of the Uruguay national team on Thursday, the country's football association announced on social media. The 47-year-old will replace outgoing coach Marcelo Bielsa. The association posted: "Diego Forlán vuelve a casa ✍🏼 pic.twitter.com/xawdXa73eB"
Bielsa stepped down after a humiliating group-stage exit at the FIFA World Cup 2026. La Celeste finished third in their group with two points from three matches and failed to win any game. Forlán has previously managed two Uruguayan clubs.
As a player, Forlán earned 112 caps for Uruguay and scored 36 goals, ranking third on the national all-time scorers list behind Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani. He appeared at three FIFA World Cups and won the Golden Ball at the 2010 tournament after helping Uruguay reach the semi-finals. He remains a hero in his home country from his playing days.
Born to former Uruguay international Pablo Forlan, Diego began in the youth systems of Penarol and Danubio before moving to Argentine club Independiente, having rejected an offer from Boca Juniors. He made his senior debut in 1998 against Argentinos Juniors and scored 37 goals in 80 appearances for Independiente, which led to a transfer to Manchester United in 2002 for £7.5 million.
Forlán spent three seasons at Manchester United, scoring 10 goals in 63 appearances, before moving to Spain with Villarreal in 2004. He netted 54 goals in 106 matches for Villarreal and was signed by Atletico Madrid for €21 million, where he scored 23 goals in his debut season and 74 in 134 appearances across four seasons.
His spell at Inter Milan proved short-lived: after signing a two-year contract he was released after one season, having scored twice in 18 appearances. He then returned to South America with Internacional, scoring 10 goals in 34 matches, and later played for Cerezo Osaka, Penarol, Hong Kong’s Kitchee and Indian Super League side Mumbai City FC, where he appeared 11 times and scored five goals. Forlán announced his retirement from professional football in 2018.
Forlán moved into management with his hometown club Penarol in December 2019, a tenure that lasted 11 games and included four wins before he was sacked 11 months later. In 2021 he was appointed at Segunda División side Atenas, overseeing 23 matches with eight wins, eight draws and seven losses before being dismissed in September via a Zoom call. He has limited international coaching experience.
Forlán will take charge of the senior national team for upcoming international friendlies and will also lead Uruguay’s U-20 side; a permanent head coach is expected to be appointed at the end of 2026 or the start of 2027.