Odil Ahmedov speaks on Uzbek football’s turning point

Uzbek football has witnessed major developments at the start of 2025. A top Uzbek player signed with one of the world’s strongest clubs, the national team saw a coaching change amid World Cup qualifiers, and a leadership shake-up at the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) is imminent. In short, Uzbek football is undergoing a major transformation.

QALAMPIR.UZ spoke with UFA Vice President and legendary footballer Odil Ahmedov to gather his thoughts on these key changes.

Ahmedov shared his insights on Abdukodir Khusanov’s high-profile transfer to Manchester City, his debut, and the challenges of adapting to the Premier League.

“There is a big difference between the English and French leagues. English teams are highly competitive. I thought Abdukodir would come on as a substitute in his first game, but Guardiola put him in the starting lineup for an important match. Naturally, a young player would be nervous, and Khusanov was no exception. It was great to see Man City players supporting him during this crucial moment,” Ahmedov noted.

The former midfielder also addressed why he never joined Arsenal despite interest from the English club.

“At that time, Anzhi had a major project with ambitious goals. The club owner personally told me he had great confidence in me and would not allow me to leave for Arsenal. That ended the discussion,” he explained.

Ahmedov also discussed the recent coaching shift in Uzbekistan’s national team.

“When Katanec fell ill, he said he couldn’t continue coaching. It was impossible to leave the team without a leader. Temur Kapadze has now taken charge, and I believe he can guide the team to the World Cup,” he stated.

During the interview, Ahmedov also talked about which Uzbek players have the potential to succeed abroad and shared updates on the “Odil Junior” football school.

Watch the full interview on QALAMPIR.UZ’s YouTube channel!