From protest to triumph: Ismailov’s journey to the top of Asian football

The Uzbekistan youth national team, led by Islam Ismailov, delivered an unmatched performance in Asia, becoming continental champions under his leadership. Behind this success was relentless hard work, meticulous attention to each player, and an unwavering belief in fair play. Yet, many fans and football experts still remember Ismailov for his earlier tenure at Turon FC—and the now-famous interview where he fearlessly called out injustice in Uzbek football.

Ismailov: The coach who demanded and achieved justice

Islam Ismailov has long stood out as one of the few football professionals in Uzbekistan who has consistently demanded fairness in the game. His tenure at Turon is particularly remembered for his bold stance against biased refereeing. In a Super League match against Sogdiana, Ismailov was visibly outraged by the unfair decisions of the head referee. Years later, he would again confront similar injustices, showing that his stance was not a one-time reaction, but a principle. After that controversial match, during a brief post-game interview, Ismailov openly voiced his frustration and urged the leaders of the Refereeing Center, the national league, and football authorities to address the issues plaguing the game. Disillusioned by repeated injustices, Ismailov even considered leaving the sport altogether.

"After everything that happened, I seriously thought about ending my coaching career. There were moments when I lacked the strength to go on. I received good offers from several clubs, but I didn’t want to work in such an environment. In my entire coaching career, I’ve never been involved in match-fixing or betting schemes. For me, the most important thing is justice," Ismailov said.

Believer in attacking football

Long before taking charge of the national youth team, Ismailov was known for promoting attacking football. This was evident during his time with Turon FC and the Yaipan city team. His footballing philosophy has always been rooted in the idea that the best defense is a good offense.

In one of his interviews, Ismailov admitted that choosing attacking tactics with underprepared squads may have been a gamble, but he never compromised his footballing ideals.

"Sometimes I wondered whether opting for aggressive football was a mistake. Our squad wasn’t full of top-tier players, but there were talents at Super League level. Still, I never told my players to just defend for 90 minutes," he said.

Three years ago, Ismailov took charge of Uzbekistan’s U-17 national team and set about preparing them for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. His trademark attacking football found a new home within the youth ranks. With time, he instilled confidence, discipline, and tactical finesse in his players—and the result was nothing short of spectacular.

At the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, Uzbekistan played fearless, high-press football and won the tournament unbeaten. Along the way, they defeated Thailand, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, North Korea, and then Saudi Arabia again in the final. Remarkably, they conceded only three goals across six matches.

Ismailov’s offensive tactics were not reckless—they were calculated and balanced with solid defensive structure. The final match against Saudi Arabia was a testament to his philosophy: even after losing two players in the first half, the team didn’t fall back into a defensive shell. Instead, they continued to attack and eventually secured a 2-0 victory. Refereeing decisions may have been questionable, but they could not derail Ismailov’s determined squad.

As the head of the Uzbek Professional Football League, Diyor Imomkhodjaev, once stated:  
“Uzbekistan’s youth team beat not only their opponents but also the referee.”

This Asian title is Ismailov’s first major achievement, and fans now have high hopes for the upcoming U-17 World Cup in Qatar. With this coach, this team, and this playing style, Uzbekistan’s youth team has set a new benchmark.