Temur Kapadze appointed head coach of Uzbekistan national football team

Expert coach Temur Kapadze, who led Uzbekistan's U-23 national team to the Olympics, has been appointed as the head coach of the national team. The Football Association of Uzbekistan announced the decision.

The UFA noted that a thorough analysis was conducted, and several candidates were considered for the position of head coach.

"Negotiations were held with both local and international experts with extensive experience. Additionally, the recommendations provided by the coaches' council were carefully reviewed," the statement read.

The report emphasized that, given the limited time remaining before the crucial World Cup qualifying matches, Kapadze’s deep familiarity with the team and its players was a key factor in his appointment. Having played for the national team for many years, and having previously served as both head coach and assistant coach, including his role with the Uzbekistan Olympic team, Kapadze was nominated for the position after achieving a historic result with the youth team.

"In the current circumstances, the UFA believes that Kapadze's coaching talent, leadership, rapport with the team members, and his relentless pursuit of excellence will yield positive results in these crucial matches," the statement continued.

The Uzbekistan national team is currently in Qatar for training, and Kapadze will join the squad and assume control of the team.

For context, Temur Kapadze led the Uzbekistan U-23 national team to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics and secured a silver medal at the Asian Cup.

It is also important to note that Srechko Katanets previously resigned as the head coach of Uzbekistan's national team due to health issues.