According to journalist Rodri Vazquez from Uruguayan radio station Sport 890 on X, De Arrascaeta finished the team’s latest training session with muscle discomfort. While the final test results are still pending, there are concerns that a muscle tear could rule him out of the upcoming World Cup.

Although the current Flamengo player is not strictly a forward, his offensive role could open the door for Suarez to be called up as a replacement. While awaiting confirmation of the injury, Marcelo Bielsa will be the one responsible for making the final decision.

Bielsa explains Suarez’s absence from the World Cup squad

The omission of Luis Suarez from Uruguay squad for the upcoming World Cup has sparked debate across all circles. Marcelo Bielsa, the team’s manager, recently explained the reasons behind the decision during a press conference.

“At the time when Luis Suarez informed us, during the farewell match that was held, that he preferred to step aside from the team, he publicly stated—among other reasons—that he wanted to support the development of younger players who were alternatives in his position. Since then, Darwin Nuñez, Federico Viñas, and Rodrigo Aguirre have been the players who most frequently took on the center-forward role,” Bielsa said.

The manager also revealed that the legendary striker told him he “was willing to contribute by returning to the national team, which I understood as a valuable and sincere gesture.”

De Arrascaeta suffered another injury before being called up by Uruguay

During Flamengo’s 1-1 draw against Estudiantes de La Plata in the Copa Libertadores group stage, Giorgian de Arrascaeta suffered a severe right clavicle fracture just 21 minutes into the match. The injury occurred after a challenge from midfielder Lucas Piovi, causing the Uruguayan playmaker to fall awkwardly on his shoulder and forcing an immediate substitution.

After being rushed to a local hospital for imaging tests, de Arrascaeta returned to Rio de Janeiro to undergo immediate surgery, sparking major concern for both Flamengo’s campaign and his availability for Uruguay ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

From World Cup-winning veterans to rising tacticians chasing a breakthrough on football’s biggest stage, the managers of the 2026 World Cup will be responsible for guiding their countries through a tournament unlike any before.

Several of the game’s most recognizable coaching names will be in charge this summer. Carlo Ancelotti enters the tournament leading Brazil, while Lionel Scaloni returns as the architect of Argentina’s title defense.

Full list of 2026 World Cup coaches by country

Host nations

• Canada — Jesse Marsch
• Mexico — Javier Aguirre
• United States — Mauricio Pochettino

South America (CONMEBOL)

• Argentina — Lionel Scaloni
• Brazil — Carlo Ancelotti
• Colombia — Nestor Lorenzo
• Ecuador — Sebastian Beccacece
• Paraguay — Gustavo Alfaro
• Uruguay — Marcelo Bielsa

North America, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF)

• Curaçao — Dick Advocaat
• Haiti — Sebastien Migne
• Panama — Thomas Christiansen

Oceania (OFC)

• New Zealand — Darren Bazeley

Europe (UEFA)

• Austria — Ralf Rangnick
• Belgium — Rudi Garcia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — Sergej Barbarez
• Croatia — Zlatko Dalic
• Czechia — Miroslav Koubek
• England — Thomas Tuchel
• France — Didier Deschamps
• Germany — Julian Nagelsmann
• Netherlands — Ronald Koeman
• Norway — Stale Solbakken
• Portugal — Roberto Martinez
• Scotland — Steve Clarke
• Spain — Luis de la Fuente
• Sweden — Graham Potter
• Switzerland — Murat Yakin
• Türkiye — Vincenzo Montella

Africa (CAF)

• Algeria — Vladimir Petkovic
• Cape Verde — Bubista
• Côte d’Ivoire — Emerse Fae
• DR Congo — Sebastien Desabre
• Egypt — Hossam Hassan
• Ghana — Carlos Queiroz
• Morocco — Mohamed Ouahbi
• Senegal — Pape Thiaw
• South Africa — Hugo Broos
• Tunisia — Sabri Lamouchi

Asia (AFC)

• Australia — Tony Popovic
• Iraq — Graham Arnold
• Iran — Amir Ghalenoei
• Japan — Hajime Moriyasu
• Jordan — Jamal Sellami
• Qatar — Julen Lopetegui
• Saudi Arabia — Georgios Donis
• South Korea — Hong Myung-bo
• Uzbekistan — Fabio Cannavaro

Who are the most experienced coaches at the 2026 World Cup?

Didier Deschamps, Carlo Ancelotti, Marcelo Bielsa and Javier Aguirre are among the most experienced coaches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Between them, they have accumulated decades of managerial experience.

France coach Didier Deschamps stands out as one of the tournament’s most accomplished managers. Since taking charge of Les Bleus in 2012, he has guided the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title, the 2022 World Cup final and the 2021 UEFA Nations League trophy.

The 2026 tournament will be his fourth World Cup as France manager and his final competition before stepping down. He is also on the verge of breaking the record for the most matches coached at the World Cup.

Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa is another veteran of international football. The Argentine previously managed Argentina at the 2002 World Cup and Chile at the 2010 edition before returning to the tournament with Uruguay in 2026.

Beyond his World Cup appearances, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential tactical minds of the modern era, having inspired coaches such as Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone.

Mexico’s Javier Aguirre also belongs in this group. The 67-year-old has already coached El Tri at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and is returning for a third stint on the global stage. His longevity and experience make him one of the most seasoned managers in the competition.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti arrives with arguably the most impressive club résumé in football history. Although 2026 is his first World Cup as a head coach, the Italian has won five UEFA Champions League titles and league championships.

Which coaches are making their World Cup debut in 2026?

Mauricio Pochettino (United States), Jamal Sellami (Jordan), Fabio Cannavaro (Uzbekistan), Sebastien Desabre (DR Congo), Carlo Ancelotti (Barazil), Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) and Luis de la Fuente (Spain) are the most notable coaches who will manage at a FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2026.

While each arrives with a very different background, all four will experience the tournament from the touchline for the first time when the competition kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The expanded 48-team format has created opportunities for several managers to reach the tournament for the first time. In many cases, those debuting coaches are leading nations making history themselves.

Who is the highest-profile coach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Carlo Ancelotti is widely regarded as the highest-profile coach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Brazil manager arrives in North America with a résumé unmatched by any other coach in the tournament.

His appointment by Brazil was one of the most significant managerial moves in intereputation was built during legendary spells with AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

No manager has won more Champions League titles, and few have managed as many of the game’s biggest stars. From Paolo Maldini and Andrea Pirlo to Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior, he has consistently succeeded at the highest level of club soccer for more than two decades.

He is far from the only superstar on the touchline. France’s Didier Deschamps enters the tournament as one of the most successful international managers of the modern era.

He won the 2018 World Cup, reached the 2022 final and will be coaching in his fourth and final World Cup before stepping down after nearly 15 years in charge of Les Bleus. England manager Thomas Tuchel is another elite figure.

Lionel Scaloni also deserves a place in the conversation. He enters as the defending World Cup champion after guiding Argentina to glory in Qatar 2022 and building one of the most successful national-team projects of the decade.

Rodrigo Aguirre, Federico Viñas and Darwin Nuñez are the only three players whose qualities fit the attacking front. Despite this situation, the manager overloaded the Uruguayan midfield.

After the official announcement, Suarez ended a streak of four consecutive World Cup call-ups: his debut was in South Africa 2010, followed by Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and most recently Qatar 2022.

Bielsa’s picks to represent Uruguay

26 players were chosen by Marcelo Bielsa to compete in the World Cup in USA, Mexico, and Canada: 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 12 midfielders, and 3 forwards—the representatives of La Celeste.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet, Fernando Muslera, Santiago Mele

Defenders: Guillermo Varela, Ronald Araujo, Jose Maria Gimenez, Santiago Bueno, Sebastian Caceres, Mathias Olivera, Joaquin Piquerez, Matias Viña.

Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte, Emiliano Martinez, Rodrigo Bentancur, Federico Valverde, Agustin Canobbio, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Nicolas De la Cruz, Rodrigo Zalazar, Facundo Pellistri, Maximiliano Araujo, Brian Rodriguez

Forwards: Rodrigo Aguirre, Federico Viñas, Darwin Nuñez

What awaits Uruguay at the World Cup?

Uruguay are locked into Group H for the upcoming World Cup, and they have a pretty exciting, diverse opening slate lined up. La Celeste will kick off their tournament in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, June 15 against Saudi Arabia, and they’ll stay right there in Florida for their second match against Cape Verde on Sunday, June 21.

For the group finale, they’ll head over to Mexico to face Spain at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on Friday, June 26, in what promises to be an absolute banger to decide who might take the top spot.

Some of the tournament’s oldest coaches have already built iconic careers. With the expanded 48-team format creating new tactical challenges, many federations have turned to veteran leadership ahead of the tournament.

Whether it’s Ancelotti’s calm authority, Bielsa’s intensity or Didier Deschamps pursuing another deep run with France, the 2026 World Cup could become a defining final act for several of soccer’s most respected coaching figures.

Oldest World Cup-winning managers in soccer history

Vicente del Bosque became the oldest coach to win the FIFA World Cup when Spain lifted the trophy in 2010, as he was 59 years old at the time. The legendary Spanish manager guided a generation led by Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Iker Casillas to Spain’s first-ever World Cup title in South Africa.

Before him, several iconic veteran managers also won the tournament later in their careers. Germany’s Helmut Schon won the 1974 World Cup at age 58, while Italy’s Enzo Bearzot captured the 1982 title at 54. Argentina’s Cesar Luis Menotti and Brazil’s Luiz Felipe Scolari also lifted the trophy in their 40s and 50s.

Some of the oldest managers ever to coach at a World Cup never actually won the tournament. Otto Rehhagel, Oscar Tabarez and Louis van Gaal all managed in their 70s, but none captured soccer’s biggest prize.

Who is the oldest manager at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Dick Advocaat is the oldest manager at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Curaçao head coach will be 78 years old during the tournament, officially making him the oldest coach not only at the 2026 World Cup, but also in FIFA World Cup history.

He originally guided the Caribbean nation through qualification and helped them reach their first-ever World Cup, a historic achievement for one of the smallest countries ever to qualify for the competition.

Before Advocaat, the oldest coach in World Cup history was Greece manager Otto Rehhagel, who was 71 years and 317 days old during the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Advocaat will surpass that record comfortably in 2026.

Here are some of the oldest managers expected at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

How old is Carlo Ancelotti at the 2026 World Cup?

Carlo Ancelotti is 66 years old during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Italian legend, born on June 10, 1959, enters the tournament as Brazil’s manager after one of the most successful club coaching careers in soccer history.

His arrival with Brazil instantly became one of the defining storylines of the tournament. After winning multiple UEFA Champions League titles with AC Milan and Real Madrid, he accepted the challenge of coaching a national team at a World Cup for the first time in his career.

Few coaches in soccer history possess a résumé comparable to Ancelotti’s. His trophy collection includes:

• Five UEFA Champions League titles
• League championships in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France
• Domestic cups across Europe
• Multiple FIFA Club World Cups

Because of that experience, Brazil hopes he can help end the country’s World Cup drought, which dates back to 2002. The tournament could also represent one of the final major chapters in his coaching career.

How many World Cups has Marcelo Bielsa coached in?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be Marcelo Bielsa’s third appearance as a head coach at the tournament. He previously coached Argentina at the 2002 World Cup and Chile at the 2010 edition before returning in 2026 with Uruguay.

His World Cup history has been dramatic and unconventional. In 2002, Argentina entered the tournament as one of the favorites but suffered a shocking group-stage elimination despite boasting stars such as Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo.

Eight years later, he transformed Chile into one of the most entertaining teams at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. His aggressive attacking system helped Chile reach the Round of 16 before losing to Brazil.

Now with Uruguay, Bielsa has another opportunity to leave his mark on the competition. FIFA highlighted that he will become one of the few coaches ever to manage three different nations at separate World Cups.

Which veteran managers have won major trophies before the 2026 World Cup?

Several of the oldest managers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrive with some of the most decorated résumés in soccer history. Coaches such as Carlo Ancelotti, Didier Deschamps and Marcelo Bielsa have already won major international or club trophies long before arriving in North America.

• Carlo Ancelotti – Brazil

Ancelotti is arguably the most accomplished club manager in modern soccer history. The Italian has won five UEFA Champions League titles and league championships in all five major European leagues. His calm leadership style and tactical flexibility made him a legendary figure at AC Milan and Real Madrid.

• Didier Deschamps – France

Deschamps already owns one of the rarest achievements in soccer: winning the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. He guided France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and later returned to another final in 2022.

• Marcelo Bielsa – Uruguay

Although Bielsa has never won a World Cup or Champions League, he remains one of the most influential tactical minds in modern soccer. He won Olympic gold with Argentina in 2004 and revolutionized teams such as Chile, Athletic Club and Leeds United with his intense pressing philosophy.

• Javier Aguirre – Mexico

Aguirre’s career spans decades across both club and international soccer. The Mexican manager coached Atletico Madrid in La Liga, led multiple national teams and guided Mexico to several World Cups.

• Carlos Queiroz – Ghana

Queiroz has managed Portugal, Iran, Colombia and Egypt while also serving as Sir Alex Ferguson’s longtime assistant at Manchester United. His career includes domestic league titles, youth World Cup trophies and decades of international experience.

To make matters worse, the press in Uruguay seems to have sided with Suarez, with some demanding Bielsa be fired from his position. In the last few months, even prior to the Copa América, many longtime Uruguay staff members were let go by Bielsa. This has not sat well with the establishment, who have criticized the manager for this and the treatment of national team heroes Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.

Leaving no stone unturned, Suarez admitted that he tried to talk to the manager about the situation, but Bielsa simply told the Uruguay legend, “thank you.” Since the bombshell, no other player currently on the squad has come forward, nor has the AUF (Uruguayan Soccer Federation) said anything on the matter. Bielsa does not speak to the press outside of a press conference environment, and it is unclear if he will hold a press conference to address these issues.

What did Luis Suarez say about Marcelo Bielsa?

Issues during the Copa América 2024

“During the Copa América, there were situations that hurt me, which I didn’t speak about for the sake of maintaining harmony (within the group).”

At one point during the tournament, Agustín Canobbio was “removed” from the first team—“I support Canobbio in what happened. Bielsa made him do exercises with the players who were there as sparring partners for several days. That’s a complete lack of respect.”

“A lot of players held a meeting to ask the coach to at least greet us with a good morning because he wouldn’t even say hello.”

“Bielsa holds a press conference and says wonderful things about the people, yet there was one day in New York when he asked us not to stop and greet the fans. I stood up and told him we were going to greet the fans regardless.”

“I had a five-minute conversation with Bielsa as a team leader, and when we finished, he just replied, ‘thank you very much.’”

Issues with staff in Uruguay’s national team complex

“At the Celeste Complex, the staff aren’t allowed to come in, greet us, or eat with us. They even have to be careful which door they use to enter. It breaks my heart that this is how things are today at the Complex.”

(Context: During the era of Óscar Tabárez, the complex was a family atmosphere, where the players were obligated to say hi to staff members, and where staff members even had direct input on certain issues. Since the arrival of Bielsa, that has stopped.)

Matías Vecino’s retirement from the national team

“Matías Vecino was the first to see it coming. No one questions why a guy like Vecino, at 30 years old, suddenly left from one day to the next?”

“In the future, I ask the fans not to blame the players if things go wrong. Bielsa has isolated the entire group, even with the way he trains.”

What will Marcelo Bielsa do amid allegations?

There are two sides to every story. Suarez also stated that “many” players were not happy under the current regimen and that they have considered leaving the national team.

Bielsa’s record with Uruguay stands at 11-3-3. His accomplishments so far include beating Brazil and Argentina back-to-back in the same week during World Cup qualifying, finishing third in the Copa América after beating Brazil and host United States, and changing drastically the style of play of Uruguay from a conservative counter-attacking team to a progressive attacking unit.

Under Bielsa, Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez tripled his output with the national team in terms of goals scored, he discovered Maximiliano Araújo, and got a new lease on life from Nahitan Nández.

Bielsa has a contract with AUF until the 2026 FIFA World Cup; he earns $4 million annually. Firing him would mean the AUF would need to pay a huge clause. Bielsa has also not been shy in the past about resigning from a position if certain aspects were not met, as he did with Lazio.

According to Uruguayan journalist Julio Rios aside of the internal issues with the team, the other major factor that Bielsa is a “problem” is his $4M a year deal, and the fact that AUF is practically broke and can’t pay his contract.

Given his poor relationship with the press and public opinion split down the middle between himself and Luis Suarez, it remains to be seen whether Bielsa will cut his losses, as Suarez has indicated that more than one of the current players on the squad are not happy with the coach.

Uruguay is set to play the October window of World Cup qualifying away against Peru and at home against Ecuador, now under a huge storm cloud.

According to an ESPN report, Pochettino will earn $6 million annually for his work with US Soccer, automatically positioning him first. At Chelsea, Pochettino earned between $13 and $14 million.

While a pay cut for Pochettino, $6 million is still a huge salary when one considers the amount of work he will have with a national team. Here is how Mauricio Pochettino’s salary matches up with the salaries of many national team managers around the world.

Mauricio Pochettino’s Salary Compared to Other Coaches

Mauricio Pochettino’s $6 million salary surpasses that of Marcelo Bielsa, coach of Uruguay, who earns $4 million. Brazil’s often criticized manager, Dorival Junior, makes the same amount as Bielsa.

Lionel Scaloni, the World Cup-winning coach, earns $2.6 million as the national team manager of Argentina. Ricardo Gareca, now with Chile, earns approximately $3.7 million.

France’s Didier Deschamps is at $4.1 million, while Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann is at $5.2 million. Roberto Martínez of Portugal, and once a USMNT candidate, is at $4.4 million.

If compared to what managers are making in Europe, Mauricio Pochettino would be the highest-paid manager in Europe as well. Roberto Mancini of Saudi Arabia makes an extraordinary $25 million to coach the Saudi national team.

La Celeste will host Paraguay on September 6th and visit Venezuela on September 10th. Uruguay is currently second in the qualification standings and has started very well under Bielsa, defeating Brazil and Argentina along the way.

For Luis Suarez, his 69 goals for Uruguay make him the country’s all-time leading scorer. According to reports from Uruguay, Bielsa has reserved him for these two matches.

Luis Suarez with Uruguay

While not officially making the roster, Suarez being reserved is a strong indication that he will be with Uruguay, who could still use the striker’s scoring touch.

Suarez last scored for Uruguay in the Copa America third-place match against Canada in a 2-2 draw, which La Celeste won on penalty kicks. It marked the first time Uruguay had finished among the top 4 of the tournament since winning it in 2011.

Eyewitness accounts and online videos depicted Colombian fans harassing family members of Uruguayan players, who were inexplicably seated among rival supporters. In response, several Uruguayan players rushed into the stands and clashed violently with the Colombian supporters.

As a result, Conmebol launched an investigation into 11 Uruguayan players. Bielsa doubled down on his criticisms during the press conference, accusing Conmebol of infrastructural negligence and inadequate safety, training, and field protocols.

Marcelo Bielsa added to list of possible Uruguay sanctions

Conmebol has now included Marcelo Bielsa in the list of individuals under investigation for potential sanctions against Uruguay. In his impassioned address, Bielsa expressed displeasure at the looming sanctions and frustration at being deemed offenders when he believes they were victims of poor security arrangements during the match.

Following his remarks, Conmebol initiated another investigation on AUF and into the Argentine coach. Ariel Rek, already handling the players’ case, will oversee this investigation as well.

Sanctions against the Uruguayan players and Bielsa could be announced as early as next week. The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) continues their defense of the players’ actions and now faces the task of mounting a defense for Bielsa.

If imposed, these sanctions could affect Uruguay’s upcoming World Cup qualifying matches later this year.

First, Bielsa spoke about the incident between his players and Colombian fans as Uruguayan national team players jumped into the stands and fought with Colombian supporters who were harassing their families, then Bielsa spoke about the poor playing fields and how CONMEBOL had requested the coaches to “say nothing” out of fear of sanctions.

Then Bielsa spoke about certain journalists who usually side “with those in power” to construct a narrative. Here are some of the major quotes from an out of control Bielsa.

Marcelo Bielsa loses it in press conference

On the possible sanctions to his players: “The other day, I made a point that the media should not question anyone when they have clear evidence to draw conclusions on their own. The reason that triggers a reaction is part of the interpretation being made of the reaction being evaluated. How can they ask me that when the only logic prevailing is that there were mothers with babies in their arms, women, sisters, mothers, attacked by spectators; the protection of the spectator has nothing to do with the spectacle?! What they should be asking me is whether the players have received an apology for not safeguarding their families. How could I fear a sanction that is impossible to happen because families were not well protected! The only thing I can say is that the players reacted like any human being. When you see there is a disproportionate act or a violent reaction, the first thing to consider is what prompted the reaction. All that matters to me is that there should be a procedure in place so that when someone sees their mother, wife, or baby being attacked, there is a way to prevent it. Do I have to be the one talking about this topic?!“

On FIFAGate: “This couldn’t be clearer. In the United States, when they felt their interests (FIFA giving the 2022 World Cup to Qatar over USA) were under attack, they created the FIFAgate. Here, nothing happened; it was an extraordinary celebration with stadiums full. There’s nothing to complain about. But we can’t hold a press conference just to say that the playing fields are not fine. Where has there been any evidence to claim that the players were forced to do this? And now we have to be afraid they might impose sanctions? The last thing we need is for them to impose sanctions. This is a witch hunt. It’s all shameful in a country that, as the organizer, has responsibilities, but I’m sure they haven’t lied (about the situation of stadiums and security)”.

On Journalist who often sell a narrative: During the press conference Bielsa had words with Uruguayan reporter Rodrigo Romano, Bielsa was visibly angry when Romano left the press conference, Bielsa took it as “acting for the cameras”: “Journalism responds to interests and caters to what is convenient, to power. There’s a portion of journalism that is fair and another portion that is bought, catering to the interests influenced by power, which prompts money. Since I’m not stupid, the first thing I said is that I don’t know in what proportion, but there is a percentage of journalism that doesn’t say what it should and another that says what it shouldn’t”.

On possible acts of vengeance by Conmebol: “I am very afraid of sporting reprisals. They always threaten us in terms of sports. The messages they sent us: we couldn’t defend their families and we can’t allow them to escape, so what kind of sanction are they talking about? What needs to be said is how long it will take for them to apologize. How am I supposed to address this topic based on the question? I want you to put yourselves in my place. We are being threatened. So I’m tired now. Holding press conferences to say the fields are perfect when they are not. This is a plague of liars. Scaloni spoke once and they told him not to speak again. The players cannot speak. Everyone is threatened. And the unions do not close ranks. They are all mistakes. The Americans made a mess with the training grounds. And Bolivia didn’t train. Of course, it’s Bolivia. And then the penalty that wasn’t called against Brazil. You already know everything that this is, man…”

Bielsa’s tactical approach is characterized by high-intensity pressing, fluid attacking movements, and meticulous preparation. He is known for his exhaustive analysis of opponents, often studying hours of footage to devise strategies that maximize his team’s strengths. This attention to detail and insistence on proactive, expansive football has influenced a generation of coaches, including Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino, who have publicly acknowledged Bielsa’s impact on their own coaching philosophies.

Marcelo Bielsa’s legacy extends beyond his achievements on the pitch; he is celebrated for his passion for football as a vehicle for personal and collective improvement. Here are 11 quotes from one of soccer’s most brilliant minds.

Marcelo Bielsa in quotes

“I am a very rejected person in my country. When I explain something, they say I’m selling smoke, that’s why I feel embarrassed to explain what I think.”

“Coaches can commit two sins: making players who can fly walk, or expecting those who can only walk to fly.”

“A person is a madman until his ideas triumph”.

“It’s hard to accept injustice, boys. I know that nothing can calm you now, because you gave everything for the game, you deserved it, and you didn’t achieve it. Even though it seems impossible, don’t complain about anything. Swallow the poison. Strengthen yourselves because playing like this, you will get what you deserve. Congratulations, boys! To everyone, everyone!”

“I know that support is only given by triumph. Almost all coaches are losers, and that’s why we are so lonely.”

“The only way I understand football is constant pressure, playing in the opponent’s half, and ball possession. I am obsessed with attacking. I watch videos to attack, not to defend. Do you know what my defensive job is? We all run.”

“There’s no need to justify or demonize. We must become aware and implement change. We need self-criticism to improve.”

“Success is distorting, relaxing, deceiving; it makes us worse, it helps us fall excessively in love with ourselves; failure is the opposite, it is formative, it makes us solid, it brings us closer to convictions, it makes us coherent. While we compete to win, and I work in what I do because I want to win when I compete, if I didn’t distinguish what is truly formative and what is secondary, I would be mistaken.”

“I am very respectful and an admirer of dribbling. Moreover, I consider that two dribbles together change the content of a match, it clears it, oxygenates it, makes it healthier.”

“I was never tempted by compliments. Compliments in football are utterly hypocritical.”

“Success and happiness do not function as synonyms; there are successful people who are not happy, and there are people who do not need success to be happy. Every human being’s obligation is to capitalize on their options to be happy.”

The reason why Bielsa will not be on the bench against USA for the last game of the group stage is due to the delays his team had when returning to the field after halftime against Panama and Bolivia.

CONMEBOL had previously issued a warning following the delayed second-half start against Panama. The situation repeated itself against Bolivia, with Uruguay taking an additional minute and a half to re-enter the field, resulting in Bielsa’s suspension.

Who will replace Bielsa as Uruguay’s coach?

Pablo Quiroga is Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant coach and will replace the Argentinean to lead Uruguay in the last group stage match against the USA. He will also give the pre-match press conference since, according to CONMEBOL regulations, on the day of the match, the suspended coach will not be allowed to have any contact with any member of the squad.

Quiroga, a long-time collaborator with Bielsa, has extensive experience working alongside the Argentine coach. He started as a video analyst during Bielsa’s tenure with the Chilean National Team and continued with him through his successful stint at Leeds United, where they achieved promotion to the Premier League.