Óscar Tabárez

Playing career

During his 12-year senior playing career, Tabárez played mainly for modest clubs, representing Sud América, Sportivo Italiano (Argentina), Montevideo Wanderers(he was in the period where they were the first non traditional team from Uruguay to achieve the participation in Copa Libertadores), Fénix, Puebla in Mexico and Bella Vista. He retired at age 32.

Managerial career (Uruguay)

In 1980, one year after retiring as a player, Tabárez took up coaching at Bella Vista. There he met José Herrera, his physical trainer for the next 40 years. The following year, Tabárez was named manager of the Uruguay under-20 team. He would coach the side on two separate occasions. He managed the team at the Pan American Games, in 1983 in Caracas, where Uruguay won the gold medal, defeating Guatemala in the final.

Tabárez subsequently worked for various clubs in Uruguay, including Danubio, Montevideo Wanderers and Peñarol. This period is important because he first met the future integrants of Uruguay's managerial team, Mario Rebollo and Celso Otero. In 1987, Tabárez led Peñarol to its fifth Copa Libertadores title after defeating América de Cali in the tournament final.

1989 Copa América

This success was fundamental in Tabárez's appointment as manager of the Uruguay senior team, in which the 1989 Copa América, in Brazil, was his first major tournament in charge. Uruguay finished in second place, eliminating Diego Maradona-led Argentina in the process, losing to hosts Brazil at the Maracanã Stadium.

1990 FIFA World Cup

After four games of qualification, Uruguay qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, held in Italy. Uruguay reached the round of 16 of the tournament after a draw with Spain, a loss to Belgium and win against South Korea. In the round of 16, however, Uruguay was eliminated by hosts Italy. After 34 games, Tabárez's first stint ended.

Managerial Work around Europe and South America

Tabárez later coached Argentine Primera División giants Boca Juniors for two years. In 1994, Tabárez moved to Italy to manage Serie A side Cagliari. After leading them to a ninth-place finish in 1994–95 and tenth place in 1995–96, Tabárez was hired by Milan. His spell, however, would only last a few months: after a Supercoppa Italiana defeat against Fiorentina at home at the San Siro, a 2–3 loss at Piacenza for the league cost him his position. He was replaced by Arrigo Sacchi, and the Rossoneri eventually finished 11th.

Tabárez then worked with Real Oviedo in Spain, with the club eventually only maintaining top division status in the promotion/relegation play-offs against Las Palmas, winning 4–3 on aggregate. He then returned to Cagliari, being sacked after one draw and three losses.

After two years in Argentina with Vélez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors, Tabárez spent four years away from football management.

Returning to the national team and beginning with " EL PROCESO" 2006

In 2006, after Uruguay had failed to qualify for three out of the preceding four FIFA World Cups, on 7 March Tabárez took charge of the national team, presenting the "Proceso de Institucionalización de Selecciones y la Formación de sus Fútbolistas", which stablished a "proper way" of work with the national teams (under-15, -18 and -20 and the senior team), reintroducing the 4–3–3 formation and setting time for players in which they can study. With the help of the Complejo Celeste, the work were facilitated upon the objectives of the Proceso. On 29 March 2016, 10 of the 11-most capped players for Uruguay have been part of the Proceso. As of May 2016, the first ten most capped players of Uruguay are or were part of the Proceso.

2007 Copa América

Tabárez's first tournament saw Uruguay finish in fourth place at the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela. In the group stage, Uruguay lost to Peru 0–3, drew with Venezuela 0–0 and defeated over Bolivia 1–0. In the quarter-finals, Uruguay met Venezuela again, this time winning 4–1. After being eliminated in the semi-finals on penalties (4–5) against Brazil (2–2), they lost in the match for third place against Mexico, 1–3.

2010 FIFA World Cup

After a successful play-off against Costa Rica, Tabárez and the Charrúas qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, first winning Group A (Uruguay did not win its group since 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, 56 years prior). They drew with France (0–0), beat South Africa (3–0) and Mexico (1–0). In the Round of 16 they beat South Korea (2–1). In the quarter-finals, Uruguay faced Ghana and after a draw (1–1), they went to extra time. In the last minute of extra time, a penalty kick was failed by Asamoah Gyan, after a hand save by Luis Suárez.

In South Africa, the national team reached the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years, where it lost 2–3 to the Netherlands, only conceding five goals in six matches until that point. Uruguay ended the competition in fourth place, after a 2–3 defeat against Germany.

2011 Copa América

In the 2011 Copa América, Tabárez led Uruguay to its 15th victory in the tournament, with the national side winning three games and drawing three in Argentina, and only conceding three goals. With these wins, Uruguay became the country with the most wins in the history of the Copa América. In 2011 and 2012, under Tabárez's leadership, Uruguay remained undefeated in 18 consecutive games from June 2011 to August 2012, a national team record previously set by Juan Carlos Corazzo. With the Copa América win, Uruguay qualified for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

2012 Olympic Games

After an 84-year absence, Uruguay returned to the Olympic Games, held in London in 2012. After a victory against the United Arab Emirates U-23 (2–1), the team lost the next two games against Senegal U-23 (2–0) and Great Britain (1–0), marking the end of the Olympic adventure. Egidio Arévalo Ríos, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez were the nation's three overage players at the tournament.

2013 Confederations Cup

Uruguay passed the first stage after a 2–1 defeat to Spain and two victories (2–1 against Nigeria and 8–0 against Tahiti). In the semi-finals, they lost 2–1 against hosts Brazil and finished in fourth place after a 2–2 draw against Italy after penalties.

2014 World Cup

Tabárez led Uruguay in its qualification to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, defeating Jordan in two play-off games, and thus becoming the first Uruguayan manager to do so in two consecutive World Cups. In Brazil, after an opening 3–1 defeat to Costa Rica followed by two wins (2–1 against England, 1–0 against Italy), to finish its group stage, Uruguay reached the round of 16th, Tabárez's third time for Uruguay at the World Cup. This also marked the first time an Uruguayan team defeated a European opponent in 44 years, the last time being a win against the Soviet Union during the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Without star striker Luis Suárez in the lineup, however, Uruguay lost to Colombia 0–2.

2015 Copa América

On 19 June, the Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol made a video tribute to celebrate Tabárez's 150 games at the helm of the Uruguayan national team. In the group stage, Uruguay defeated Jamaica 1–0, lost to Argentina 1–0 and drew Paraguay 1–1 to finish in third position in its group. Uruguay qualified as the top third-placed and met Chile in the next stage. In a game marked with the controversy between Edinson Cavani and Chile's Gonzalo Jara, Uruguay were eliminated after a 1–0 defeat. After the tournament, Tabárez was suspended for three official games for the incidents of the Chile–Uruguay match, in which Cavani was also suspended for two games.

2016 Copa América Centenario

Uruguay contested the Copa América Centenario as part of the Group C, which also include Mexico, Jamaica and Venezuela. Uruguay was eliminated after its three group stage matches, losing to Mexico (3–1) and Venezuela (1–0) but defeating Jamaica 3–0.

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Despite the suspension after the Copa América, and with Celso Otero assisting on the bench, Uruguay won its first two games in the 2018 World Cup qualification, the first time since 1966 World Cup qualification, and winning for the first time in La Paz against Bolivia. After the game against Chile, a 3–0 victory, Tabárez equaled Francisco Maturana as the South American coach with most games in the CONMEBOL qualifiers, with the distinction that Tabárez has only represented one nation, Uruguay.

Qualification continued in March 2016 with a draw at Brazil (2–2) and a home win against Peru (1–0). In September 2016, after a 1–0 defeat to Argentina, Tabárez became the national team manager with most games with one country, surpassing the record held by Sepp Herberger (167 games), established in 1964. The next game saw Uruguay beat Paraguay 4–0. In October 2016, Uruguay play two games: a victory over Venezuela (the first in Uruguay after 16 years), and a draw with Colombia in Barranquilla (the first time Uruguay get a point in that city), and also, Luis Suárez reach Argentinian Hernán Crespo, at the top of goal scorers in World Cup Qualifications for Conmebol.

World records

Tabárez is presently the first on the list of football managers with most games, that have managed one national team, as of September 2016, he has surpass the record held by Sepp Herberger (167) and Morten Olsen (166) as the national team manager with the most games as national football manager with just one national team, leading a selected group with 100 games or more. This list also includes such names as Hugo Meisl, Alf Ramsey, Mario Zagallo, Helmut Schön, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Joachim Löw, Lars Lagerbäck, Bruce Arena, Berti Vogts, Guillermo Stábile, Walter Winterbottom and Vicente del Bosque.

First spell

  Win   Draw   Loss

Managerial record for the national teams

Club

International

Individual

Personal life

Aside from his career in football, Tabárez also worked as a teacher.