Uzbekistan has appointed Fabio Cannavaro, the legendary Italian defender and 2006 World Cup champion, as their new head coach. The Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) made the announcement on Monday, October 6, 2025, signaling a significant move to bolster the nation's chances in their debut World Cup appearance in 2026. The contract was signed at Uzbekistan's National Football Center.
Cannavaro, a former Ballon d'Or winner and three-time World Cup participant, brings a wealth of experience to the Central Asian nation. The UFA expressed confidence that Cannavaro possesses the skills and experience necessary to guide Uzbekistan to success on the world stage. Ravshan Irmatov, the association's first vice president, highlighted Cannavaro's tactical strictness, international experience, and professional culture as key factors that will inject a new system and spirit into the national team.
Uzbekistan secured its first-ever World Cup berth under the leadership of Timur Kapadze. However, the UFA has opted for Cannavaro's more extensive international experience as they prepare for the challenges of the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Kapadze will remain with the team as an assistant coach.
Cannavaro's coaching staff will include assistant coach Eugenio Albarella, who has worked with Japan's national team, Juventus, Udinese, and Dinamo Zagreb; fitness coach Francesco Troise, who has collaborated with Benevento, Udinese, and Dinamo Zagreb; and goalkeepers coach Antonio Kimienti, who has experience with Italy's national youth team, and the Sampdoria and SPAL clubs.
Cannavaro acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him. He outlined his initial plans to help the team adapt to the intensity and demands of World Cup-level competition. He emphasized the need to increase the intensity of the Super League and improve players' recovery methods. He also intends to request performance data from club coaches to monitor the progress of the players.
"The intensity of the Super League needs to be increased; we will discuss this with the management. The more we move at a high tempo during the game, the better the results will start to be. Players' recovery is also very important," Cannavaro stated.
Cannavaro's appointment is considered a high-profile coaching move in Asian football. Prior to accepting the offer from Uzbekistan, Cannavaro revealed that he had received offers from seven to eight other places. The fact that Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup and the seriousness of the project encouraged him to accept the offer.
While this marks Cannavaro's first significant step into international coaching, he briefly coached China for two matches in 2019. His previous managerial roles include positions at clubs in China, Saudi Arabia, and Croatia, including a recent short spell with Dinamo Zagreb. His most successful coaching experience to date was with Guangzhou Evergrande in 2019, where he won the Chinese Super League.
Uzbekistan's key players for the upcoming World Cup include Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov and Roma forward Eldor Shomurodov, who is currently on loan in the Turkish league.
