Former Costa Rica international and Fulham playmaker Bryan Ruiz has been appointed head coach of his national team following a promising start as interim manager.
In his first spell as interim coach of Costa Rica’s senior national team, the 41-year-old led the side to back-to-back victories over Nicaragua (3-0) and Haiti (2-0), helping the nation retain its place in CONCACAF Nations League A.
Since retiring from playing in 2022, Ruiz has worked with Liga Deportiva Alajuelense’s youth setup and gained interim first-team coaching experience before taking charge of Costa Rica. While he may lack managerial experience, his familiarity with the national side is a major asset.
With 147 caps and 29 goals, Ruiz is Costa Rica’s second-most capped player. He captained Costa Rica to the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals and also represented his country at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
The Costa Rican Football Federation have described his appointment as "providing continuity", and bringing "knowledge of both the domestic and international game to the touchline."
At club level, Ruiz is best known in England for his time in the Premier League with Fulham, who signed him in 2011 for a then club-record fee of around £10.6 million. Although he struggled to consistently meet expectations, he made 97 appearances for the Cottagers, more than for any other club in his career.
Having also played for PSV Eindhoven, Twente and Santos, the former attacking midfielder now begins a new chapter in international football, tasked with guiding Costa Rica towards the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
How Bryan Ruiz has changed Costa Rica's fortunes
After Costa Rica failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under former Mexico boss Miguel Herrera, his dismissal paved the way for Argentine Fernando Batista to take charge in March 2026.
However, Batista’s tenure proved hugely disappointing. Across six matches, Costa Rica failed to win, drawing once and losing five times, including Nations League defeats against Curaçao and Haiti and friendly losses to Iran, England and Colombia, alongside a draw against Jordan.
Since taking over on an interim basis in September, Ruiz has made an immediate impact with convincing victories over Nicaragua and Haiti. Beyond the results, his appointment has also brought a sense of familiarity back to the national team.
One of his first decisions was to recall Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who had been left out under Batista amid reports of a breakdown in communication. The ex-Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain keeper had publicly criticised the former manager for failing to contact him personally.
Ruiz has also brought in former Costa Rica teammates Wilmer Lopez and Christian Bolanos as assistant coaches, alongside video analyst Ariel Gonzalez and fellow coach Wardy Alfaro, assembling a backroom staff with strong ties to Costa Rican football.
What are Bryan Ruiz's plans for Costa Rica?
In a statement announcing Ruiz’s permanent appointment, the Costa Rican Football Federation said the decision "gives continuity to the work initiated by Ruiz during his two games as interim coach."
Describing the former captain as "one of the national team’s greatest assets", the federation highlighted his "experience, leadership and knowledge" as key qualities he will bring to the role as Costa Rica look towards the 2030 World Cup.
Ruiz will take charge of his first matches as permanent head coach during November’s international break, when Costa Rica travel to face Ecuador and 2022 World Cup runners-up Argentina. The fixtures will provide a tougher test of the foundations laid during his promising interim spell.
Having captained Costa Rica to the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Ruiz will aim to guide his country back to the finals in 2030 after its failure to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
CONCACAF qualifying for the 2030 World Cup is expected to begin in September 2027, giving the former playmaker time to build towards the campaign.
