Longtime Uruguay head coach Oscar Tabarez dismissed

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The Uruguayan Football Association said the contract of the national team's head coach Oscar Tabarez, 74, has been terminated, ending his 15-year tenure on Friday.

During his career, Tabarez coached Uruguay twice, from 1988-1990 and 2006-2021.

He guided Uruguay to the 2010 FIFA World Cup semifinals.

Tabarez's men came fourth in South Africa after losing the third-place playoff match against Germany 3-2.

In his era, Uruguay won the 2011 Copa America.

Uruguay lost their last four matches in the 2022 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers to be in the seventh position with 16 points after 14 matches.

His final match as Uruguay manager was a 3-0 loss to Bolivia earlier this week.

The best four nations in South America directly seal their places for the World Cup, while the fifth-placed nation will qualify for an intercontinental playoff to earn a spot in Qatar.

Brazil and second-place Argentina qualified for next year's World Cup tournament.