It’s now official: Fabio Cannavaro, Ballon d’Or winner and 2006 World Cup champion, is taking the helm of the Uzbekistan national team, which has qualified for the World Cup for the first time in its history.
On Monday afternoon, the Uzbek Federation confirmed the Italian legend’s appointment. His managerial career includes, among other things, stints at Al-Nassr and Udinese, without real success.
🇺🇿 Fabio Cannavaro — Head Coach of the Uzbekistan National Team!
The Uzbekistan Football Association has signed a contract with Fabio Cannavaro — a renowned specialist, three-time FIFA World Cup participant, 2006 World Cup champion, and one of the best defenders of the modern… pic.twitter.com/rF1TAdjba0
— O‘zbekiston FA (@UzbekistanFA) October 6, 2025
Cannavaro will lead the Uzbek selection to the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico — a historic milestone for a country on the rise on the Asian scene.
He will be surrounded by an entirely Italian staff: Eugenio Albarella as assistant coach (formerly of the Japanese selection, Juventus, Udinese, and Dinamo Zagreb), Francesco Troise as physical trainer (ex-Benevento, Udinese and Dinamo Zagreb) and Antonio Chimenti as goalkeeping coach (formerly of the Italian youth selections, Sampdoria and SPAL).
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.
📸 Michael Steele – 2006 Getty Images
