OFFICIAL: Marcelo Bielsa is the new Uruguay head coach

Former Leeds and OM manager Marcelo Bielsa is the new manager of the Uruguay national team. 

The 67-year-old had been out of football management since leaving Elland Road almost 15 months ago.

The Uruguayan Football Association confirmed Bielsa's appointment on a deal running until the 2026 World Cup.

He succeeds Diego Alonso, whose contract expired after the World Cup in Qatar earlier this season, where Uruguay suffered a shock group-stage exit.

Bielsa served as manager of Argentina from 1998 to 2004 and he also had a four-year stint in charge of Chile.

Bielsa guided Leeds back to the Premier League from the Championship in 2020 and was one of the most popular managers in the club's history.

But he left in February last year following a run of four successive league defeats.

The veteran coach had been one of the leading candidates to take over at Everton earlier this season after the sacking of Frank Lampard, but despite holding talks with the Toffees he rejected the role.

He feared the squad lacked pace and also worried about their battle against relegation - preferring to take over in pre-season.

Bielsa's lengthy managerial career has also included spells with Athletic Bilbao, Marseille and Lille.

Uruguay are currently 16th in FIFA's world rankings, with Bielsa's first major campaign at the helm set to be next year's Copa America in the United States.