Latest news with #Khusanov
France 24
3 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Uzbekistan seals footballing dream with World Cup qualification
The Central Asian nation qualified for football's premier international tournament on Thursday thanks to a 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates -- enough to seal the achievement with one game to spare. "I cannot convey my feelings. I am very, very happy -- for the first time in 34 years the Uzbekistan national team has reached the World Cup," Otabek Khaydarov, a 36-year-old entrepreneur told AFP in Tashkent after the final whistle. Ex-Soviet Uzbekistan started competing as an independent nation in the 1990s, following the break-up of the USSR. Footage shared on social media showed the players, draped in national flags, mobbing coach Timur Kapadze in the press room after the game. The expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams has given traditional outsiders, like Uzbekistan, the chance to break into the top ranks of world football. But their success is not just down to a larger World Cup. Uzbekistan is one of Asia's fastest developing footballing nations. And across Central Asia, the sport is in the ascendancy -- backed by state funding and growing popularity in a region where combat sports traditionally reign supreme. Ravshan Khaydarov, the coach of Uzbekistan's under-23 national team, said qualification is the result of "a long-term effort". "Presidential decrees adopted to reform football five or six years ago marked the beginning of a process that is still ongoing," he told AFP on the sidelines of a match in Tashkent, ahead of the crunch game against UAE. The construction of new stadiums and training centres, sometimes with FIFA's support, has been crucial, he said. State affair Such backing from the top is essential in a region dominated by autocratic regimes. In both Uzbekistan and neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, the national football federations are controlled by powerful secret service chiefs. On the pitch, Uzbekistan's charge to the tournament -- to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico -- was led by the star trio of centre back Abdukodir Khusanov, striker Eldor Shomurodov and winger Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Khusanov, who moved to Manchester City in a reported $45-million deal earlier this year, has become a national hero at home. Bootleg jerseys featuring his name and number are available at bazaars across the landlocked country. Footballing bosses are confident the success of Khusanov and Shomurodov, who plays for Roma in Italy, can be replicated. More than a third of the country's 35 million people are under the age of 20 -- a huge talent pool waiting to be coached. "It is important to have a systemic approach to identifying talent and selecting the best players who will become famous. The world will know Uzbekistan thanks to our national team," said coach Khaydarov. "Our dream is to see Uzbek players in the best European clubs." - 'Creativity' - The country has already had glory at the youth level, recently winning the Asian U17 and U20 Cups and qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. "The strength of Uzbek football lies in the combination of play, technique, passing and attacking," said Azamat Abduraimov, a former player and now coach. "Uzbek football has always been renowned for its creativity. We have always had good strikers and creative, technical midfielders. But we lacked success because we were weak in defence," he added. Centre-back Khusanov, who Abduraimov coached as a teenager, has helped address that balance. Many see 21-year-old winger Fayzullaev, who plays for CSKA Moscow and was voted Asia's best young player in 2023, as the next Uzbek in line for a big money move to Europe. His playing style has been compared to star Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who just won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain. For the national team, qualifying for next year's World Cup brings a new set of challenges. Uzbekistan has never played an international match against a top European side, and most of its young talent still lack experience on the biggest stages. In Tashkent, supporter Otabek was relishing the step up.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Uzbekistan seals footballing dream with World Cup qualification
Uzbekistan's players celebrate after qualifying for the World Cup for the first time (Fadel SENNA) Uzbekistan are heading to next year's World Cup for the first time in the country's history, a feat that caps years of progress in a part of the world not known for its footballing prowess. The Central Asian nation qualified for football's premier international tournament on Thursday thanks to a 0-0 draw with the United Arab Emirates -- enough to seal the achievement with one game to spare. Advertisement "I cannot convey my feelings. I am very, very happy -- for the first time in 34 years the Uzbekistan national team has reached the World Cup," Otabek Khaydarov, a 36-year-old entrepreneur told AFP in Tashkent after the final whistle. Ex-Soviet Uzbekistan started competing as an independent nation in the 1990s, following the break-up of the USSR. Footage shared on social media showed the players, draped in national flags, mobbing coach Timur Kapadze in the press room after the game. The expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams has given traditional outsiders, like Uzbekistan, the chance to break into the top ranks of world football. Advertisement But their success is not just down to a larger World Cup. Uzbekistan is one of Asia's fastest developing footballing nations. And across Central Asia, the sport is in the ascendancy -- backed by state funding and growing popularity in a region where combat sports traditionally reign supreme. Ravshan Khaydarov, the coach of Uzbekistan's under-23 national team, said qualification is the result of "a long-term effort". "Presidential decrees adopted to reform football five or six years ago marked the beginning of a process that is still ongoing," he told AFP on the sidelines of a match in Tashkent, ahead of the crunch game against UAE. Advertisement The construction of new stadiums and training centres, sometimes with FIFA's support, has been crucial, he said. - State affair - Such backing from the top is essential in a region dominated by autocratic regimes. In both Uzbekistan and neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, the national football federations are controlled by powerful secret service chiefs. On the pitch, Uzbekistan's charge to the tournament -- to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico -- was led by the star trio of centre back Abdukodir Khusanov, striker Eldor Shomurodov and winger Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Khusanov, who moved to Manchester City in a reported $45-million deal earlier this year, has become a national hero at home. Advertisement Bootleg jerseys featuring his name and number are available at bazaars across the landlocked country. Footballing bosses are confident the success of Khusanov and Shomurodov, who plays for Roma in Italy, can be replicated. More than a third of the country's 35 million people are under the age of 20 -- a huge talent pool waiting to be coached. "It is important to have a systemic approach to identifying talent and selecting the best players who will become famous. The world will know Uzbekistan thanks to our national team," said coach Khaydarov. "Our dream is to see Uzbek players in the best European clubs." Advertisement - 'Creativity' - The country has already had glory at the youth level, recently winning the Asian U17 and U20 Cups and qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. "The strength of Uzbek football lies in the combination of play, technique, passing and attacking," said Azamat Abduraimov, a former player and now coach. "Uzbek football has always been renowned for its creativity. We have always had good strikers and creative, technical midfielders. But we lacked success because we were weak in defence," he added. Centre-back Khusanov, who Abduraimov coached as a teenager, has helped address that balance. Advertisement Many see 21-year-old winger Fayzullaev, who plays for CSKA Moscow and was voted Asia's best young player in 2023, as the next Uzbek in line for a big money move to Europe. His playing style has been compared to star Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who just won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain. For the national team, qualifying for next year's World Cup brings a new set of challenges. Uzbekistan has never played an international match against a top European side, and most of its young talent still lack experience on the biggest stages. In Tashkent, supporter Otabek was relishing the step up. "I would like to have strong opponents at the World Cup, I know at that there will be no weak ones there." sk-bk/asy-jc/ea
Reuters
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Man City's Guardiola demands slimmer squad for next season
May 21 (Reuters) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has told the club he wants to work with a tighter squad next season as it troubles his "soul" to leave so many players in the stands when everyone is fit. Regular internationals Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov and Claudio Echeverri were all unable to find a place in the squad on Tuesday as City beat Bournemouth 3-1. England's James McAtee and Rico Lewis also missed out. City have 28 players in the first team, not counting four who are out on loan, and have one of the most valuable squads in the world with some media reports valuing it at over 1.3 billion euros ($1.47 billion). "I said to the club ... I don't want to leave five or six players in the freezer," Guardiola told reporters after City moved up to third with one match left in the campaign. "I don't want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay." Despite their huge squad City faced an injury crisis late last year, with the side going on a five-match losing streak in all competitions between October-November. They brought in Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Khusanov and Nico Gonzalez at a cost of more than $224 million in the January transfer window to help address the problem. But with defenders John Stones and Nathan Ake the only two players currently out with injury, Guardiola said it was "impossible" for his "soul" to keep telling so many players they would be watching the match from the stands. "It is a question for the club. I don't want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit. If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players (from) the academy and we do it," the manager added. Guardiola, who extended his contract with City until 2027 in November, will lead the club as they defend their Club World Cup title next month. ($1 = 0.8825 euros)
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Etihad Player of the Month: February nominees revealed
Erling Haaland, Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol are all up for the Etihad Player of the Month award for February. The polls are now open, so who will you choose as your winner? Phil Foden took the honours last month, beating Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. And one of that trio is up again as we look at the three contenders for February... Four games, four goals and one assist for our prolific No.9, Erling Haaland will be looking to go one better than his second-place poll finish in January. Haaland started February with a fine headed goal in our heavy loss to Arsenal, before being rested for the FA Cup tie with Leyton Orient. He was back for the Champions League play-off clash with Real Madrid, scoring twice in a 3-2 loss at the Etihad. Erling led the team out for the first time a few days later, and was superb in the 4-0 win over Newcastle, assisting James McAtee's late goal. He jarred his knee in that game and missed our next two matches against Real Madrid and Liverpool, but was back for the midweek 1-0 win over Spurs, bagging the only goal of the game in another masterful display at leading the line. Will our Norwegian superstar get your vote? Have Manchester City unearthed another gem of a defender? His first full month in sky blue suggests our Uzbek youngster is going to be something of a cult hero for City fans - but can he cap off a fantastic February by winning this poll? After an understandably nervy start on his debut against Chelsea, the 20-year-old hasn't looked back with a series of composed and committed displays. His second appearance for the Blues saw him glance home Rico Lewis' shot against Leyton Orient to level the scores at Brisbane Road. And his next appearance was against Newcastle United where he was outstanding, keeping in-form Alexander Isak and the dangerous Anthony Gordon quiet throughout as City thrashed the Magpies 4-0 at the Etihad. With a mixture of intelligent defending, speed and determination, Khusanov announced his arrival as a star of the future in style. The youngster was then played at right-back away to Real Madrid and was up against Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe and though the Blues lost 3-1, Khusanov defended stoically in difficult conditions. And his baptism of fire didn't end there! Next, he was up against Mo Salah in the 2-0 loss to Liverpool, but gave an impressive display and looked confident and composed throughout. Khusanov ended February with a stellar display in the 1-0 win away to Spurs and will have a legion of new admirers behind him in his first Etihad Player of the Month poll. Josko Gvardiol continued his impressive start to 2025 throughout February. Our talented Croatian defender was involved in a couple of clean sheets in our Premier League wins over Newcastle and Spurs and was a constant threat going forward. Gvardiol set up Haaland's first goal against Real Madrid at the Etihad and provided several big chances for his team-mates during another productive month. Will Josko get your vote? The polls - now open - close at 18:00 (UK) on Thursday 6 February. Vote below now!
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Manchester City have found the defender they so desperately needed
Manchester City signed four players in the January transfer window. One of those was centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov. The Uzbekistan international has impressed since his eventful debut for the club against Chelsea. From that moment onwards Khusanov has shown that he has added the attributes that Manchester City's defence so desperately needed. He displayed those once again last night during City's 1-nil win over Tottenham. He was once again solid at the back as he helped his team pick up a clean sheet and three vital points in the race to secure Champions League football for next season. We had seen before Khusanov's arrival that Manchester City needed a centre-back with pace to add to their defence. Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones have all battled injuries this season. In their fitness battles, Pep Guardiola's side has lacked a proper no-nonsense defender who can defend well when running back towards his own goal. That is a necessary attribute for City's defenders given the high defensive line Pep Guardiola employs. Khusanov has added this and Manchester City are better for it. It's no coincidence that City have kept two clean sheets in their past three Premier League games with Khusanov in the lineup. Abdukodir Khusanov adds pace, strength, defensive acumen and a no-nonsense attitude to Manchester City's defence. Even in possession, he keeps it simple. Although he is beginning to add to his repertoire when on the ball. But Khusanov is a defender first and foremost and that is all he needs to be for now. He was defensively solid last night against Ange Postecoglou's side. He stood up in the second half when his team needed him to at the back. Khusanov wasn't perfect but he played an important role in City's vital win. Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Abdukodir Khusanov and the start he has made at Manchester City following his team's win last night. The City manager believes that Khusanov will become a player that City fans will love. He explained post-game: 'So fast, so quick, quality with passes is extraordinary. He breaks the lines. He has the ability to do it. He has to improve but he's 20.' 'I've seen players with a lot of pace but he is one of them.' 'People adore him. He is silent, no complaints and so humble and I'm sure our fans will love him. ' 'It's not easy to overcome after what happened after five minutes against Chelsea but he was calm and he handled it.' 'The games he's played recently, he's been really, really good.' Abdukodir Khusanov has added the attributes to Manchester City's defence that they so desperately needed. That is a huge credit to Khusanov and his performances so far for Manchester City. As Pep Guardiola said City fans will love the young centre-back. But it's clear that they do already and that love will only grow as Khusanov develops as a player.
