Timur Kapadze Appointed Uzbekistan Head Coach as Srečko Katanec Steps Down

Kapadze takes over with Uzbekistan in a strong position to qualify for their first-ever World Cup after Katanec resigned due to health issues.

Srečko Katanec resigned as Uzbekistan's head coach on Wednesday, citing health problems that prevent him from fulfilling his duties.
Katanec, 61, led Uzbekistan to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Asian Cup and placed them second in their World Cup qualifying group, three points behind Iran.
Timur Kapadze, a former national team player and coach of Uzbekistan's under-23 team, has been named as Katanec's replacement.
Kapadze's familiarity with the team and players was cited as a key reason for his appointment ahead of critical qualifiers in March against Kyrgyzstan and Iran.
Uzbekistan is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, with the top two teams in their group earning automatic berths for the 2026 tournament.