With an eye on the World Cup, Uzbekistan appoint Italian coach Cannavaro | OneFootball

This Monday, Uzbekistan - which will make its World Cup debut in the 2026 edition - announced Italian Fabio Cannavaro, 2006 World Cup champion, as the new coach of the national team. The 52-year-old coach's contract is valid until the end of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Despite his brilliant career as a player, with stints at Parma, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Juventus, Cannavaro has not been able to replicate his success as a coach. The Italian has been coaching since 2014, but only had a good performance in Chinese football.

Cannavaro's Career

Cannavaro began his coaching career in November 2014, at the now-defunct Guangzhou Evergrande. There, he only stayed for 22 games before giving way to Felipão, who won all possible titles with the team.

Soon after, the commander went to Al-Nassr, before the state investment in Saudi football. After only 11 games, he was fired again. On July 1, 2016, he took over TJ Quanjian.

Cannavaro had success at the modest Chinese club, winning the national second division in 2016. Due to his good performance, he returned to Guangzhou Evergrande in November 2017, after Felipão's departure.

In his second stint, he won the Chinese Championship and the China Supercup. He stayed with the team for four years and left the club after the financial crisis that hit Chinese football.

From 2022 until today, he managed Benevento and Udinese in Italy, and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, but did not succeed in any of the teams.

Uzbekistan National Team

Cannavaro arrives in Uzbekistan to replace coach Timor Kapadze, who qualified the team for the World Cup. Kapadze will take over Pakhtakor, one of the country's main clubs, and will continue to hold a position in the Uzbek federation.

This FIFA date, Uzbekistan will play friendlies against Kuwait and Uruguay. This Thursday, at 10 a.m. (Brasília time), Cannavaro makes his debut against Kuwait, and next Monday (13) he faces the Uruguayans.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.