Uruguay sack iconic head coach Oscar Tabarez after 15 years on the job
Oscar Tabarez was sacked on Friday after a record-breaking 15 years in the job, following a poor run of results that leaves the country’s World Cup qualification hopes in the balance.
Tabarez, 74, enjoys almost legendary status in Uruguay having led the tiny country of 3.4 million people to the World Cup semi-finals in 2010 and then to the Copa America title in 2011.
But four straight defeats, with three of them by three goals have left Uruguay in danger of missing out on next year’s World Cup, a tournament they have won twice in 1930 and 1950.
“The executive committee of the AUF informs that it has decided to end the contract of Oscar Washington Tabarez and other members of the national team coaching staff,” said the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) in a statement.
The AUF described it as a “difficult decision” that in no way “disavows Tabarez’s important contribution to Uruguayan football”.
Uruguay has scored just one goal, conceding 11, in their last four matches that included defeats to Brazil, Bolivia and twice to Argentina.
They sit seventh in the single South American qualifying table for the World Cup in Qatar, with only the first four progressing automatically.
Brazil and Argentina have already qualified, while Ecuador needs just two wins from their final four matches to join them.
The battle for the final spot sees five teams, including Uruguay, separated by just two points.
Tabarez took charge of a record 221 matches with a single national team, even putting him ahead of former Germany boss Joachim Loew, with 198 games.
He was the longest-serving current national team coach at 15 years and eight months.
The Uruguayan soccer federation has not announced a replacement for Tabárez.
