Marcelo Bielsa watched Uruguay run out 4-1 winners over Nicaragua on Wednesday night in his first game since taking the job, and his first match since being sacked by Leeds United – despite missing a number of key players.
Bielsa, 67, was named Uruguay manager on May 15 after a hiatus that lasted almost 18 months following his exit from Leeds in February 2022. Since his sacking, Leeds have had four others in the dugout and are now relegated.
Despite links with the likes of Everton, Bournemouth, Athletic Bilbao and plenty of others jobs since his exit from Leeds, Bielsa has taken the Uruguay role. It is his third spell in international management, after Argentina and Chile.
On Wednesday night, he watched his Uruguay side ease to a 4-1 win – in the first of two end-of-season friendlies scheduled. The second, against Cuba next Wednesday. That is despite Uruguay lacking a number of key players.
Uruguay win 4-1 in Bielsa first game since Leeds United sacking
A mix of injuries, and that Bielsa wanted to use the friendlies to see some younger players impress, say the likes of Diego Godin, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, Fede Valverde, Darwin Nunez and Rodrigo Bentancur all absent.
The latter of course, has an injury that could keep him sidelined until November. He handed Matias Arezo, a striker for Uruguayan side Penarol a starting role up top – and while he missed a penalty, he opened his Uruguay account.
Another interesting inclusion was midfielder Rodrigo Zalazar Martinez. The 23-year-old Schalke star scored twice from midfield in what was his first cap, a stroke of Bielsa genius. Brian Rodriguez got the other, in his 18th cap.
Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri got two assists, while Bielsa also handed debuts to goalkeeper Franco Israel, Valladolid’s Lucas Olaza, Midtjylland’s Emiliano Martinez, Toluca’s Max Araujo and others off the subs bench.
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