Former Uruguay striker Diego Forlán Corazo has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Uruguay national team following the resignation of Marcelo Bielsa in the aftermath of the country’s disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

Bielsa stepped down after La Celeste suffered a shock group-stage exit at the tournament, ending a spell that fell short of the lofty expectations placed on the South American giants.

The Uruguayan Football Association has moved swiftly to hand Diego Forlán the reins on an interim basis as the country begins preparations for its next round of international fixtures while a permanent successor is considered.

The 47-year-old is one of Uruguay’s most decorated footballers, having enjoyed a stellar playing career with Manchester United, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan.

Forlán etched his name into World Cup history with a series of outstanding performances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where he inspired Uruguay to a fourth-place finish and won the FIFA Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

Since retiring from professional football, Forlán has built coaching experience with Peñarol and Atenas, while also serving as head coach of Uruguay’s Under-20 men’s national team.

His appointment is expected to provide stability during a transitional period as Uruguay seek to bounce back from their World Cup disappointment and rebuild ahead of future international competitions.

The former forward’s wealth of experience at both club and international level is expected to be instrumental as La Celeste aim to restore their status among world football’s leading nations.