20th November, 2021
Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has sacked Oscar Tabarez as coach of the national team after a record-breaking 15 years in the job.
Tabarez was sacked following a poor run of results that leaves the country’s World Cup qualification hopes in the balance.
74-year-old Tabarez 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 a year later.
But four straight defeats — three of them by three goals — have left Uruguay in danger of missing out on next year’s World Cup, a tournament they won 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,” the statement said.
The AUF described it as a “difficult decision” that in no way “disavows Tabarez’s important contribution to Uruguayan football.”
Uruguay have 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 need 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.