Diego Forlán appointed interim coach of Uruguay senior and U20 national teams

The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) announced via a video post that former striker Diego Forlán will take charge of the senior national team on an interim basis after the departure of Marcelo Bielsa following the 2026 World Cup. Forlán will also head the Uruguay U20 side, preparing the squad for the 2027 South American Championship and the 2027 U20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The 47‑year‑old former player, who scored 36 goals in 112 caps, won the 2011 Copa América and received the 2010 World Cup Ballon d’Or, will lead the senior team through upcoming friendly matches until a permanent coach is appointed, with his interim mandate lasting until the AUF presidential elections in March 2027. He has already named his technical staff: former midfielder Diego “Ruso” Pérez and Santiago Espasandín, a youth coach from Nacional, after considering other candidates. Forlán’s previous coaching experience includes stints at Peñarol (2020) and Atenas de San Carlos (2021). The AUF expects his dual role to restore identity and competitiveness to Uruguayan football.