Andrey Shipilov, a former member of Uzbekistan’s Olympic national team coaching staff and the current head coach of Uzbekistan Super League club Kokand-1912, has backed the appointment of Fabio Cannavaro as head coach of the Uzbekistan national team.
Shipilov spoke about Cannavaro in a major interview with Eurasia Football. The Uzbek specialist said he supports the idea of a foreign coach leading the national team, especially ahead of Uzbekistan’s first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.
“I really liked the appointment of Cannavaro. I am in favour of a foreign coach working with the national team. At this stage, I would not allow a local coach anywhere near the national team,” Shipilov told Eurasia Football.
According to Shipilov, his position is based on his own experience inside the national team system.
“I worked in the national team for two years, so I know what it is like. Let specialists of this level work — like Srečko Katanec before, and now Cannavaro,” he said.
Uzbekistan qualified for the World Cup for the first time in its history and will make its debut at the 2026 tournament. Shipilov said expectations around the team are positive, but avoided making specific predictions about results.
“The expectations are very good. For the first time since independence, Uzbekistan has reached the World Cup. For coaches, for supporters, for the whole country, this is a huge event,” he said.
“I cannot say what the result will be. But I think no player will go onto the pitch just to take part. When you play for the country, you have to fight, suffer, sing the anthem and leave the pitch with a clear conscience — both before and after the match.”
Shipilov also said he will be particularly interested in how Uzbekistan’s foreign-based players perform at the tournament.
“I hope we get out of the group. I will watch very closely, especially our legionnaires. It will be very interesting to see how they perform for the national team, because many of them are playing very strongly for their clubs,” he added.
Uzbekistan began its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign under Slovenian coach Srečko Katanec, who had led the national team since 2021. He stepped down in January 2025 because of health issues and was replaced by Timur Kapadze.
Kapadze, a former Uzbekistan international who had also worked with the country’s U-23 team, completed the qualifying campaign and led Uzbekistan to its first-ever FIFA World Cup. Uzbekistan secured direct qualification after a 0-0 draw away to the United Arab Emirates in June 2025.
However, after qualification, the Uzbekistan Football Association decided to appoint a foreign specialist for the World Cup itself. Cannavaro, Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain and Ballon d’Or winner, was named head coach and is expected to lead Uzbekistan at the 2026 World Cup.