Álvaro “Flaco” Fernández on Uruguay’s Youth, the Expanded World Cup, and the Future of International Football | OneFootball

Urban Pitch sat down with former MLS Designated Player Álvaro “Flaco” Fernández, now an assistant coach with Uruguay’s U-15 and U-17 national teams. Fernández discussed what it’s like to coach youth players in today’s game, how international soccer could evolve in the coming years, and also shared his thoughts on MLS.

Álvaro “Flaco” Fernández was one of the first players of his kind in MLS. Following the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, where Uruguay finished fourth, the former midfielder signed with the Seattle Sounders.

Up until that point, the Designated Player rule had largely been reserved for globally recognized stars. But MLS was beginning to shift its strategy, and “El Flaco” became one of the first younger players signed not purely for name recognition, but for long-term potential and on-field impact.

During his time in MLS, Fernández won one MLS Cup and two U.S. Open Cup titles with the Rave Green before continuing his career across Chile, Argentina, Qatar, and Uruguay. He ultimately retired in 2024 while playing for Plaza Colonia.

Now 40 years old, the 12-time capped Uruguayan international is helping develop the future of the two-time FIFA World Cup champions through Uruguay’s U-15 and U-17 national team setup. In an exclusive interview with Urban Pitch, Fernández discusses the challenges of coaching young players in an era of shrinking attention spans, the impact of social media on player development, and how the expansion of the FIFA World Cup could leave national teams with fewer truly competitive matches.

Urban Pitch: How do you see that youth football has changed over the years in general and what things should be taken into account today that might not have been the case a few years ago?

Álvaro Fernández: First of all, I think youth football is in a very good place, both in Uruguay and around the world. Football is the number one sport globally, so naturally there are a huge number of kids playing and developing talent every year. We continue to see players with tremendous quality and potential coming through the ranks.

That said, I do think some things have changed over time. Maybe there’s been a slight loss of that street football mentality — that fearless, competitive edge that players from previous generations developed naturally by playing informally for hours. That “wild” instinct to take on opponents and express yourself freely on the pitch was very characteristic of earlier eras.

At the same time, the modern game has evolved in many positive ways. Technically, today’s young players are far more complete, more prepared tactically, and have access to better training methods from a very early age. So while some aspects of the old-school game may have faded a little, a lot has also been gained in terms of player development.

In the end, I believe youth football continues to be just as strong and exciting as it was years ago. It has simply evolved with the times.

You were part of a generation shaped by the Tabárez process, which emphasized strong values both on and off the pitch. Today, things seem very different, as young players grow up surrounded by social media, constant exposure, and outside influences that can sometimes isolate them in their own “bubble.” As a coach, how do you approach developing today’s youth footballer?

Yes, fortunately within the national team setup we have a sports psychology and support area that helps us a lot with those situations. They work closely with the players on topics like social media, how to manage exposure, what is appropriate to post, and the responsibility that comes with representing the national team, especially today with platforms like TikTok being such a big part of young people’s lives.

We constantly have conversations with the players about these issues because the reality is that, as they grow and become more visible, criticism also increases. During the last South American tournament, for example, we didn’t perform the way we wanted, and criticism quickly appeared. Sometimes people forget they’re talking about 15- or 16-year-old players.

That’s why it’s so important to support them emotionally and help them understand how to process those situations without losing confidence or focus. Every player handles pressure differently. Some are more affected than others, so having professionals who can guide them through that process is extremely valuable.

For us as coaches, that support system is a huge help because it allows us to share responsibilities and make sure the players are being cared for not only as athletes, but also as young people developing in a very demanding environment.

Has that become a challenge for you when working at the youth level, especially compared to your own generation, which grew up before this level of technology and social media?

Yes, definitely. Today everything moves very fast for young people. If something doesn’t capture their attention within a few seconds, they can quickly lose focus. That’s why, as coaches, we have to be very careful with how we communicate information, especially during tactical talks or video analysis sessions.

For example, when we show videos of opponents or review strategic concepts, we try not to make the sessions too long or overloaded with information because attention spans are different today. The digital world they grew up in is built around short-form content, constant stimulation, and quick transitions from one thing to another.

Because of that, we’ve learned to adapt our methods. Instead of giving them everything at once, we break concepts down step by step. We might first show a short video before training and then immediately take those ideas onto the pitch, where they can experience them in practice. On the field, they engage much more naturally, so the learning becomes more effective.

That said, we’ve also been fortunate with this generation because they are very dedicated and genuinely eager to improve. They’re highly motivated and receptive to learning, so overall we haven’t had many problems. It’s really about finding the right balance and understanding how to communicate with modern players in a way that keeps them engaged and focused.

The World Cup and the Future of International Football

Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Looking ahead to the upcoming World Cup, you were part of the 2010 Uruguay squad in South Africa, which really felt like the beginning of a major era for the national team. What followed were several strong World Cup campaigns and a long period of consistency under Óscar Tabárez. What were the key factors behind that success, and how was Uruguay able to sustain such a high level of performance for nearly 15 years?

First of all, I think a huge amount of credit goes to Óscar Tabárez. He led the national team for around 15 years and created a very clear culture built on discipline, professionalism, and values. Every player who joined the national team understood exactly what was expected both on and off the pitch. There was a clear line of conduct that everyone respected.

At the same time, we were fortunate to have a generation of extremely talented players. Especially in attack, we had forwards (Diego Forlán, Edinson Cavani, and Luis Suárez) of a level that are very difficult to replace. But beyond the football itself, what really made that generation special was the connection with the shirt, the country, and the people. There was a real sense of unity and commitment to representing Uruguay.

I also think the group handled itself very well off the field. There was a strong bond between the players and the Uruguayan people, and that created a special energy around the team. The fans felt identified with that generation, and in return the players always seemed willing to give something extra for the country.

Of course, everyone remembers South Africa 2010 because of how historic that run was, but I think Uruguay also had very strong World Cups in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018. It wasn’t just one magical tournament — it was a long period of consistency built through hard work, strong leadership, and a group that truly believed in what it represented.

Considering everything we’ve discussed about player development and the influence of the Tabárez era in Uruguay, what do you think is most important at the youth level today?

I think every generation of players is different, and as a coach you have to adapt to the characteristics of the players you have. For example, with some teams you might have fast, physically strong players who are better suited to defending compactly and attacking quickly in transition. In that case, it makes more sense to play a counterattacking style that takes advantage of those strengths.

On the other hand, I’ve coached generations where the players were more comfortable maintaining possession and building attacks patiently through the ball. So the style naturally changes depending on the profile of the squad.

That’s why I don’t believe you can force every team to play the exact same way regardless of the players available. Of course, as a national team there should always be certain principles and an overall identity, but football ultimately depends on the qualities of the players you have at your disposal.

Personally, I lean more toward building the game model around the characteristics of the players. First I analyze what the group does best, and from there I develop the tactical plan and the way the team will play.

Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Speaking about player characteristics, there’s been some concern in recent years that Uruguay hasn’t yet produced another generation of strikers like Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani, or Diego Forlán. From your perspective, is that simply a matter of patience and natural cycles in football, or do you think there are certain things that need to improve within youth development and player identification to help produce that level of talent again?

I think Darwin Núñez showed a lot of his potential during certain periods, especially when he was playing with confidence and continuity. He’s a very talented striker, and we all know the qualities he has. Maybe he hasn’t been able to maintain that level consistently at times, but there’s no doubt he’s an important player for Uruguay.

We hope that the upcoming World Cup can bring out the very best version of him again, because the national team really needs players with that kind of talent and personality.

As for the younger generations, there are always promising players beginning to emerge, and you can already see certain qualities in some of them. But it’s very difficult to say whether someone will become the next Suárez, Cavani, or Forlán. Players of that level are special and don’t come around often.

In football, these things also happen in cycles. Uruguay is a country that will always produce talent, so I think it’s important to stay patient and continue working on development the right way.

Uruguay seems to be going through an important generational transition under Marcelo Bielsa. From the outside, it feels like the team has had moments of very good results, but at the same time the process hasn’t fully connected with the fans yet. Why do you think this transition has been a bit difficult for people to fully embrace?

At the end of the day, what really connects people to a national team are the results. When the team is winning, the fans naturally become excited and emotionally invested. You could see that clearly when Bielsa first arrived — after victories against Brazil and Argentina, people were incredibly enthusiastic, the atmosphere around the team was amazing, and the stadiums were full.

Then, when the results became less consistent, some of that excitement faded a little. That’s normal in football. Fans are passionate, and emotions tend to follow performances and results very closely.

But with the World Cup approaching, I think people will reconnect with the team again because Uruguay lives football very intensely. The national team is something very special for the country. Of course, what happens during the group stage will be important because strong performances are what keep fans fully engaged and believing in the project.

Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Do you think this new format could change the intensity or mentality of the group stage matches compared to previous World Cups, or do you believe the level of competition will stay the same?

Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the new format with so many teams. I preferred the older structure because every match felt much more decisive. Before, only the top two teams advanced, so there was very little margin for error. Now, with more teams qualifying — including some third-place teams — a country could potentially move on after winning just one match.

That definitely changes the dynamic a bit. It also means there will likely be games where coaches rotate players more and manage minutes differently because the path to qualification is a little more forgiving.

Of course, for South American teams it can be beneficial because more spots are available, but personally I still prefer the traditional World Cup format. I think having too many teams lowers the level of competitiveness in some matches, and there are national teams that probably wouldn’t have qualified under the previous system.

For me, part of what made the World Cup so special was how difficult it was to reach and how intense every game felt from the very beginning.

MLS from Afar

I wanted to ask you about MLS. You played in the league when it had around 16 or 17 teams, and now it has grown to 30. How do you see MLS today compared to when you played there? What areas do you think have improved the most, and is there anything you feel the league may have lost along the way?

I think MLS has grown tremendously since the time I first arrived there in the early 2010s. The league has taken huge steps forward in terms of infrastructure, organization, visibility, and especially the quality of players coming in. Today, you see footballers of a very high level choosing to play there, and I believe the league will continue to grow because it has the resources and ambition to keep improving.

Personally, I had a great experience in MLS and I really enjoyed my time there. When I joined the league, I was only the second Uruguayan player in MLS. After that, many more Uruguayan footballers arrived and started looking at the league differently.

I always say that you really have to play in MLS to understand how competitive it is. From the outside, some people still treat it like a lower-level league, but I think that perception is outdated. It’s a very physical, demanding, and competitive championship, and over the years the football quality has improved enormously.