Former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is “very close” to becoming the new boss of the Uruguayan national team – with talks reportedly in their “final stages”.
That is according to Argentinian media outlet TyC Sports (via Marca), who claim that Bielsa is set to fill the vacant position following Diego Alonso’s departure.
Bielsa would arrive hoping to breathe new life into a national side who – underwhelmingly – found themselves knocked out during the group stages of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The agreed contract is reported to last until the end of the upcoming South American qualifiers, with an option to extend the deal until the 2026 World Cup.
The 67-year-old’s future has been a source of much speculation in recent times with Bielsa being linked to several clubs since he left Elland Road – including Leeds’ relegation rivals Everton earlier this year.
This would have been a particularly bitter pill for the Whites faithful to swallow – given that Bielsa being appointed at the Merseyside club may have seen them remain in the top-flight at Leeds’ expense.
Fortunately for Leeds fans everywhere such events never came to pass; Bielsa turned down the Everton position and returned to Argentina. The memories of his iconic tenure at the West Yorkshire club were left untarnished.
Now, Uruguay look set to become the next club to potentially benefit from the Argentine’s high-intensity, attacking footballing philosophy.
If Bielsa were to take the reins at Uruguay, they would become the third South American national side he has managed, following his native Argentina and Chile.
