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Uruguay Manager Oscar Tabarez Is Our Hero Of The World Cup

Uruguay Manager Oscar Tabarez Is Our Hero Of The World Cup

What a bloke...

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Others will end up stealing the headlines at the World Cup but for us the hero of the tournament is Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez.

The South American outfit topped Group A before beating Portugal in the last 16 to set up a quarter final clash with France, who knocked them out on Friday after a 2-0 win.

They gave it a real good fist of it but the absence of Edinson Cavani proved too much against Didier Deschamps' side.

However it's not Cavani, Suarez or defenders Diego Godin or José Giménez who are the heroes of their side, no for us it's the main man on the touchline.

At 71 Tabarez is the oldest manager at the World Cup which itself deserves respect but the former Boca Juniors manager, who has been a manager since 1980, is also on a crutch because he suffers from Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

It is a rare disorder in which the nerve cells are attacked by the immune system and leads to weakness and numbness and in some cases can cause paralysis.

Tabarez gives instructions to Martin Caceres. Image: PA Images
Tabarez gives instructions to Martin Caceres. Image: PA Images

Tabarez was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre in 2016 and was expected to have to step down as manager at the time and had to use a zimmer frame and electric wheelchair at the time but decided to carry on.

He has improved in recent months but still uses his crutch to help himself get around whilst members of his staff often help him as well.

'The Teacher,' nicknamed so because he used to be a teacher, managed Penarol to the Copa Libertadores title in 1987, earning himself his first stint in charge of the national team.

He took Uruguay to the World Cup in 1990, having managed the under 20s previously, but left after the tournament.

Tabarez as manager of AC Milan in 1996, 16 years into his managerial career. Image: PA Images
Tabarez as manager of AC Milan in 1996, 16 years into his managerial career. Image: PA Images

In 2006, after several club jobs in Europe and in South America, he returned to the Uruguay national team and has been in charge since.

They reached the semi-final in 2010 where they lost 3-2 to Netherlands and Diego Forlan finished as the tournament's best player, winning the Golden Ball.

Four years later they finished second to Costa Rica in the group that included Italy and England and lost to James Rodriguez's Puskas Award winning goal in Rio.

Tabarez discusses tactics. Image: PA Images
Tabarez discusses tactics. Image: PA Images

This time around they finished second to Brazil in qualifying, above Argentina and Colombia, and had a memorable run to the quarters.

Here's hoping we see Tabarez and his crutch in Qatar!

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Football, World Cup, Uruguay