Marcelo Bielsa

Marcelo Bielsa is the head coach of Uruguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leading La Celeste back to the world stage after qualifying through CONMEBOL. Born in Rosario on 21 July 1955, "El Loco" Bielsa is one of football's most studied and imitated minds — disciples include Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone.

His playing career as a centre-back was modest, but his coaching identity — vertical, high-pressing, obsessive in video preparation — was crystallised at Newell's Old Boys (1991 Argentine title) and Vélez Sarsfield (1998 Clausura). With Argentina he won Olympic gold at Athens 2004 and took the Copa América runners-up spot the same year. He then transformed Chile into a feared World Cup outfit (2010 R16), reached the 2012 Europa League and Copa del Rey finals with Athletic Bilbao, and most famously rebuilt Leeds United, winning the 2019–20 Championship and ending their 16-year Premier League exile.

Appointed by the AUF in May 2023, Bielsa has reshaped Uruguay around Federico Valverde, Darwin Núñez and a young pressing engine. La Celeste reached the Copa América 2024 semi-final and qualified for 2026 with games to spare.

Uruguay are in Group H with Spain, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, opening on 14 June. Bielsa's brief: turn a generation that idolises him into a side that can finally end Uruguay's 76-year wait since the 1950 Maracanazo for a third world title.