Why does Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez have a walking stick and use a mobility scooter?


URUGUAY boss Oscar Tabarez’s managerial career spans 38 years and includes 16 posts.

The 71-year-old has coached in Colombia, Argentina, Italy and Spain, and first managed the Uruguay national team from 1988 to 1990.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez dishes out the instructions during a training session
Reuters

He returned for a second spell in 2006 and has been going strong ever since.

Before hanging up his playing boots Tabarez was a tough-tackling defender for six clubs.

He’s also worked as a primary school teacher…

So it comes as no surprise to note that Tbarez has been awarded the Fifa Order of Merit, having been at the helm for Uruguay at the Copa America five times.

The 71-year-old Tabarez is still going strong despite suffering from ‘chronic neuropathy’
AFP or licensors
Tabarez has a long history of 16 managerial posts
Reuters

This is his fourth World Cup and he’s already reached the round of 16 two times, and the semi-finals once in 2010.

So, Oscar Tabarez is still managing Uruguay but why does he use a walking stick and sometimes a mobility scooter?

Tabarez has an illness. originally reported in 2016 to be Guillain-Barre syndrome.


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This is a serious condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system, usually after a viral or bacterial infection.

But Tabarez say he is he is suffering from “chronic neuropathy.”

Tabarez ‘will continue at least until the results say otherwise’
AP:Associated Press
The Uruguyan boss has qualified for his fourth World Cup
EPA

He explains: “My illness, I have talked about with who I need to talk about it with.

“All the higher ups at the AUF knew that I had to move around in a cart. There are days where I am better than others.

“There are some days where I can move on my own, some others no. Still, nothing changes with my job, or dealing with players.”

How did the soccer world react to Tabarez ‘s illness when he was first diagnosed?

AC Milan posted a message in support of their former head coach when he first battled ill health.

At that stage two years ago Uruguay boss was determined to carry on, saying:

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“I will continue [as Uruguay coach] — at least until the results say otherwise.

“When you are coach you know you are displayed by the results.”

Who do Uruguay play in Russia?

Tabarez ad Uruguay play the hosts, Eqypt and Saudi Arabia in Group A of the tournament.

 


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