The Argentinian technician explained on Wednesday that he had abandoned tempting offers from clubs to train Celeste.
“Uruguay has something to fantasize about.In his unique style, the new coach of La Céleste, the Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, explained on Wednesday during his first press conference that he had abandoned tempting offers from clubs to take charge of the Uruguayan national team and its “high level players“. The 67-year-old coach with a sulphurous reputation did not reveal any amounts, but said he took into consideration that he would never have had a club “a group of players like those that Uruguay“.
“They didn’t have to convince me, I would almost say the opposite“Said the former coach of Argentina (1998-2004) and Chile (2007-2011). “My desire to belong to this project has two proponents: the players that Uruguay have, and those for whom we do things, the average citizen“. Bielsa is committed until the 2026 World Cup but must before this deadline cross the South American qualifications which open in September.
To write a new page in the history of the country, double world champion (1930, 1950), “ElLoco“, his nickname, will notably have under his orders the young Uruguayan stars Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Darwin Nuñez (Liverpool) or Ronald Araujo (Barcelona).
“The idol is a precious metal for the poorest”
He said he had not decided on the future in the national team of the now aging stars of Uruguay: the attackers Luis Suarez (Gremio Porto Alegre / BRA, 36 years old) and Edinson Cavani (FC Valencia / ESP, 36 years old). “You can’t make a decision about any player with a historic past without listening to him. I am very respectful of idols because they are the heritage of the people and the idol is a precious metal for the poorest. I would never knowingly do anything to harm an idol“, he explained.
Marcelo Bielsa had been without a club since February 2022 after three and a half seasons on the bench for Leeds in England). One of his longest periods with a club after the multiple slammed doors, especially in Marseille (2014-2015) which he had left with a bang at the end of the 1st day. Bielsa had a brief stint at Lille (2017) and also coached Athletic Bilbao (2011-2013). He began his coaching career in Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys (1987-1992), where the stadium bears his name, before trying his hand at the Mexican championship (1992 to 1996).
The native of Rosario, also the hometown of Leo Messi, is only the second non-Uruguayan to coach Uruguay after Daniel Parella, another Argentinian, between 1999 and 2001. He replaces Diego Alonso, whose contract has expired. not been extended after the sad campaign of the Celeste in Qatar-2022, eliminated in the group stage.