1. Early life and background
Martín Lasarte was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. His family background reflects a blend of cultures, with his father being a Spanish immigrant from the Basque Country, and his mother being Uruguayan of Basque descent. This heritage connects him to both Uruguayan and Spanish roots, which would later influence his playing and coaching career choices.
2. Playing career
Martín Lasarte's professional football playing career spanned 16 years, from 1980 to 1996. Primarily a defender, he represented five different teams in Uruguay and also had a notable spell in Spain.
In Uruguay, Lasarte played for several prominent clubs. He had two spells with Rentistas, two spells with Rampla Juniors, and also played for Central Español and Defensor Sporting. His most successful period as a player in Uruguay was with Nacional. With Nacional, he won four major titles, including the prestigious 1988 edition of the Copa Libertadores, followed by the Intercontinental Cup (also known as the Toyota Cup) in the same year.
Abroad, Lasarte played four seasons for Deportivo in Spain. During the 1990-91 season, he played a crucial role in helping the Galician club return to La Liga, Spain's top flight. In the following campaign, he appeared in 35 full matches, contributing significantly to the team's ability to avoid relegation. He also served as the captain in several matches during his time at Deportivo. After his stint in Spain, he returned to Uruguay, playing for Defensor Sporting, Rentistas (for his second spell), and Rampla Juniors (for his second spell) before retiring as a player in 1996.
3. Coaching career
Martín Lasarte embarked on an extensive coaching career in 1996, at the age of 35, following his retirement as a player. His managerial journey has taken him across multiple clubs and national teams in South America, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, and Egypt.
3.1. Early club management
Lasarte began his coaching career with Rampla Juniors in Uruguay. In his first year, during the 1996 Clausura tournament, he led the club to a commendable second-place finish in the Uruguayan Primera División. Over the subsequent years, he managed other Uruguayan clubs, including Rentistas and Bella Vista.
In 2002, Lasarte had a brief but impactful spell in the United Arab Emirates, taking charge of Al Wasl. Upon his arrival, the team was at the bottom of the league table, but under his guidance, they made a significant turnaround, finishing the season in fifth position.
3.2. First major successes in South America
In 2003, Lasarte was appointed manager of River Plate Montevideo. He successfully guided the team to promotion from the Uruguayan Segunda División in his second season. Following this success, he moved to Nacional, a club where he had previously played. At Nacional, he achieved significant success, leading them to two consecutive national championships in 2005 and 2005-06. However, after finishing fifth in the 2006-07 Apertura, his contract was not renewed, and he departed the club.
After leaving Nacional, Lasarte had a very brief stint in Colombia with Millonarios in 2007. He then returned to Uruguay, managing Danubio for one season between 2008 and 2009.
3.3. European and later club stints
In 2009, Lasarte returned to Spain, the country of his father's origin, to manage Real Sociedad, which was then in the Segunda División. In his first season, the 2009-10 campaign, he successfully led Real Sociedad back to La Liga after a three-year absence from the top flight. His contract was extended until June 2012 in late August 2010.
In the 2010-11 season, Real Sociedad initially performed well, at one point being close to the qualification positions for the UEFA Europa League during the first half of the season. Despite this, the team's form dipped, and they had to wait until the final matchday to secure their safety from relegation. Although he achieved the primary objective of avoiding relegation, Lasarte was relieved of his duties on May 24, 2011. This decision reflected the high expectations placed on the team, despite achieving league survival.
On May 15, 2014, Lasarte was named manager of Universidad de Chile. He also had a second tenure at Nacional, returning to manage the club in June 2016.
In December 2018, Lasarte took on a new challenge, joining Egyptian Premier League club Al Ahly. In his first season, he guided the club to its 41st national championship in the 2018-19 season, marking a significant achievement as a champion across three continents. However, on August 18, 2019, he was dismissed after the team was eliminated from the Egypt Cup by Pyramids FC.
3.4. International management
On February 10, 2021, the Football Federation of Chile announced Martín Lasarte as the new head coach of the Chile national football team. His primary task was to lead the team through the qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Despite his efforts, Chile did not qualify for the tournament, and on April 1, 2022, Lasarte decided not to continue in his role as the national team coach. More recently, Lasarte has returned to manage Nacional for a third tenure, commencing on June 17, 2024.
4. Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Rampla Juniors |  | July 1, 1996 | December 31, 1997 | 44 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 29.55 |
| Rentistas | | January 1, 1998 | December 31, 1999 | 43 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 30.23 |
| Bella Vista | | October 18, 2000 | August 21, 2001 | 48 | 16 | 11 | 21 | 33.33 |
| Al Wasl |  | November 1, 2002 | April 1, 2003 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 30.00 |
| River Plate | | May 20, 2003 | December 31, 2004 | 50 | 34 | 7 | 9 | 68.00 |
| Nacional | | May 1, 2005 | December 31, 2006 | 94 | 52 | 24 | 18 | 55.32 |
| Millonarios |  | July 11, 2007 | September 3, 2007 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 22.22 |
| Danubio | | April 22, 2008 | May 11, 2009 | 50 | 19 | 9 | 22 | 38.00 |
| Real Sociedad |  | July 1, 2009 | May 24, 2011 | 83 | 34 | 17 | 32 | 40.96 |
| Universidad Católica |  | June 4, 2012 | December 17, 2013 | 93 | 50 | 21 | 22 | 53.76 |
| Universidad de Chile | | June 1, 2014 | December 31, 2015 | 74 | 39 | 13 | 22 | 52.70 |
| Nacional | | June 13, 2016 | December 31, 2017 | 61 | 40 | 8 | 13 | 65.57 |
| Al-Ahly |  | January 1, 2018 | August 18, 2019 | 40 | 27 | 4 | 9 | 67.50 |
| Chile | | February 14, 2021 | April 1, 2022 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 31.82 |
| Nacional | | June 17, 2024 | present | 33 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 66.67 |
| Total | 753 | 370 | 164 | 219 | 49.14 | |||
5. Honours
Martín Lasarte has achieved significant honours throughout his career, both as a player and as a manager, across various leagues and competitions.
5.1. As a player
Nacional
- Copa Libertadores: 1988
- Intercontinental Cup: 1988
5.2. As a manager
River Plate Montevideo
- Uruguayan Segunda División: 2004
Nacional
- Uruguayan Primera División: 2005, 2005-06, 2016, 2017-I, 2024-I
- Supercopa Uruguaya: 2025
Real Sociedad
- Segunda División: 2009-10
Universidad de Chile
- Chilean Primera División: 2014 Apertura
- Copa Chile: 2015
- Supercopa de Chile: 2015
Al Ahly
- Egyptian Premier League: 2018-19
6. Legacy and reception
Martín Lasarte's legacy in football is marked by his consistent ability to achieve league promotions and championships across diverse footballing cultures. His tactical approach has often been pragmatic, focusing on building strong, competitive teams that can achieve their objectives, whether it be promotion or championship titles. His success in leading teams like River Plate Montevideo, Nacional, Real Sociedad, Universidad de Chile, and Al Ahly to league titles demonstrates his adaptability and effectiveness as a coach.
Lasarte is particularly noted for his achievements in returning Real Sociedad to La Liga after a three-year absence, a feat that resonated well with the club's supporters. His later dismissal from the Spanish club, despite securing top-flight safety, highlighted the high expectations placed upon him. Similarly, his tenure at Al Ahly, where he won the league title but was dismissed after a cup exit, showcased the immediate and results-driven nature of top-tier club management. His personal declaration of being "a champion in three continents" reflects the significant impact he has had on football in South America, Europe, and Africa. His return to Nacional multiple times also underscores his deep connection and importance to the club's history and its fanbase.