MONTEVIDEO.- The former forward Diego Forlan assumed the technical direction of the senior team and the U-20 of Uruguaythe federation of this country announced on Thursday, a month after the failure of the Celeste in the World Cup 2026.
Leader of the generation that returned Uruguay to the soccer elite by reaching the semifinals of South Africa 2010 and win the Copa America Argentina 2011Forlán arrives to rebuild the Celeste after their disappointing North America World Cup 2026where directed by Marcelo Bielsa She was eliminated in the first round.
“Diego Forlán returns home” to be “in charge of the U-20 National Team and the Senior National Team,” said a brief message broadcast by the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF).
Two hours later, the AUF applauded that the “reference, figure and emblem of an unforgettable generation” returns to the Celeste to contribute his “deep knowledge of international football from technical leadership.”
The agreement with Forlán, Ballon d’Or of South Africa 2010, was closed after weeks of negotiation. The details of the contract have not been reported.
Days ago, sources from the Uruguayan federation told AFP that he would take over as interim coach of the senior team, but that the doors were open to prolong that relationship.
With the U-20 team, world champion in Argentina 2023his work is already underway and in the senior team he will make his debut in the friendlies of the date FIFA September and October, the AUF letter confirmed. Santiago Espasandin and Diego Perezanother representative of the South Africa 2010 team, will be his assistants.
Uruguay seeks to recover from the hard setback suffered in the 2026 World Cup, where it tied with Saudi Arabia (1-1) and Cape Verde (2-2) and lost to the world champion, Spain1-0, being eliminated in the first phase.
It was the second World Cup consecutive in which the Celeste says goodbye at the first opportunity, after a previous decade in which it reached the semis in South Africa 2010to the round of 16 in Brazil 2014 already quarterfinals in Russia 2018.
Coming home
Forlán’s election generates uncertainty and expectations at the same time, in a fan base that idolizes his career as a player, but has few references to decode his coaching profile.
The “10” hung up his boots at the age of 40 in 2019 and made his debut as a coach in the 2020 season in Penarol. Just 11 games later he left office due to poor results.
His other experience on the bench came in 2021, when he was in charge of a Uruguayan second division team for 12 games.
Shipowner of the celestial rebirth
Forlán is dazzled by a successful career as a striker that began in Independent of Avellanedawhere he debuted in the first division in 1998.
Directed by Oscar Tabareznext to Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani They formed an offensive trident that a year after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa won the Copa América in Argentina, the Celeste’s fifteenth continental crown.
Third all-time top scorer of the national team with 36 goals, behind Suárez (69) and Cavani (58), “Cachavacha” completed a family saga in that Copa América by being the third, after his father and grandfather, this one as coach, to win the most important national team tournament in South America.
Pichichi for two
Forlán’s consecration came much earlier in his clubs than in his national team. After standing out in Independiente, he landed in 2002 in the Manchester United.
After three years in Englandarrived at the Spanish league, where on two occasions he was the top scorer (Pichichi) and also European Golden Boot: in its premiere season in Spain (2004-2005) with Villarreal and in 2008-2009 in the Atlético de Madrid, where he formed a memorable duo with the Argentine Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero.
With Atleti he conquered the Europa League 2009-2010, his greatest achievement in Europe. He was also champion of the Premier League 2002-2003 with Manchester United.
In 2011 he changed Atleti for Inter Milan and after a season in Italy returned to South America, with the Porto Alegre International.
Osaka Cherry Tree of Japan, Penarolthe team of which he declared himself a fan, Mumbai City FC in India and the Hong Kong Kitchee SC They completed the career of one of the most outstanding footballers in the history of Uruguayan football.
