Football in Uzbekistan
Encyclopedia
Football is the most popular sport in Uzbekistan, a country that gained independence in 1991. The national association takes part in all competitions organised by FIFA
and the Asian Football Confederation
.
In 1926 the first championship of the Uzbek SSR
(i.e. Uzbek League
) was held. Sbornaya Tashkenta
and Sokol Tashkent were the most successful clubs in the competition. However the most successful club was FC Pakhtakor,the only football club from Uzbek SSR
that played in USSR Top League with 22 seasons appearances.
Uzbekistan Football Federation
was founded in 1946.
Berador Abduraimov is the most famous Uzbekistani footballer during the Soviet period. He played 358 matches for FC Pakhtakor, was top goalscorer of Soviet Top League
in 1968 and also represented the Soviet Union
..
Between 1961 and 1975, several Uzbekistani footballers had been members of USSR national football team
:
was reestablished and became a member of FIFA
and Asian Football Confederation
.
In the same year, Uzbekistani football celebrated its greatest moment, when the national team
won the Asian Games
at a time when the country was just finding its feet after gaining independence. But in 2003, the national association enjoyed more success: for the first time, the country's U-20 team qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship
which was hosted by the UAE.
Uzbekistan's best achievement at Asia Cup was a fourth place finish at 2011 AFC Asian Cup
.
Most successful football clubs in Uzbekistan
are FC Bunyodkor
and FC Pakhtakor. Uzbekistani clubs participate in the annual CIS Cup.
Most famous uzbekistani footballers since independence from the Soviet Union
are Server Djeparov
(2008 Asian Footballer of the year), Igor Shkvyrin
(top goal scorer of 1994 Asian Games), Mirjalol Qosimov and Maksim Shatskikh
.
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and the Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
.
Soviet Period
Football in Uzbekistan started to develop in the 20's.In 1926 the first championship of the Uzbek SSR
Uzbek SSR
The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Uzbek SSR for short, was one of the republics of the Soviet Union since its creation in 1924...
(i.e. Uzbek League
Uzbek League
The Uzbekistan Professional Football League , is the top division of football in Uzbekistan, and is operated under the auspices of the Uzbekistan Football Federation.-Soviet time champions:*1926 : FC Tashkent*1927 : FC Tashkent*1928 : FC Fergana...
) was held. Sbornaya Tashkenta
and Sokol Tashkent were the most successful clubs in the competition. However the most successful club was FC Pakhtakor,the only football club from Uzbek SSR
Uzbek SSR
The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Uzbek SSR for short, was one of the republics of the Soviet Union since its creation in 1924...
that played in USSR Top League with 22 seasons appearances.
Uzbekistan Football Federation
Uzbekistan Football Federation
The Uzbekistan Football Federation is the governing body of football in Uzbekistan, controlling the Uzbek national team. It was founded in 1946, while Uzbekistan was still under Soviet rule, and has been a member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation since 1994.The federation organizes the...
was founded in 1946.
Berador Abduraimov is the most famous Uzbekistani footballer during the Soviet period. He played 358 matches for FC Pakhtakor, was top goalscorer of Soviet Top League
Soviet Top League
The Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...
in 1968 and also represented the Soviet Union
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
..
Between 1961 and 1975, several Uzbekistani footballers had been members of USSR national football team
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
:
| Name | Position | Team | Caps(Goals) | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gennadi Krasnitsky Gennadi Krasnitsky Gennadi Aleksandrovich Krasnitsky was a Soviet football player.-International career:... |
Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
 USSRUSSR national football team The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union... |
3(1) | 1961 |
| Berador Abduraimov | Striker Striker Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals... |
USSR USSR national football team The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union... |
?(?) | 1967 |
| Yuri Pshenichnikov Yuri Pshenichnikov Yuri Pavlovich Pshenichnikov is a former Soviet Uzbekistani footballer and a current coach.-Honours:* Soviet Top League winner: 1970.* Soviet Goalkeeper of the Year: 1968.... |
Goalkeeper Goalkeeper In many team sports which involve scoring goals, a goalkeeper is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by intercepting shots at goal... |
USSR USSR national football team The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union... |
21(0) | 1966-1970 |
| Vassilis Hatzipanagis Vassilis Hatzipanagis Vassilis Hatzipanagis is a retired football attacking midfield. He played for Iraklis FC in Greek Alpha Ethniki and Pakhtakor Tashkent in the Soviet Top League... |
Midfield Midfield Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in... |
USSR USSR national football team The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union... |
4(1) | 1975 |
Since Independence
In 1994, Uzbekistan Football FederationUzbekistan Football Federation
The Uzbekistan Football Federation is the governing body of football in Uzbekistan, controlling the Uzbek national team. It was founded in 1946, while Uzbekistan was still under Soviet rule, and has been a member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation since 1994.The federation organizes the...
was reestablished and became a member of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
.
In the same year, Uzbekistani football celebrated its greatest moment, when the national team
Uzbekistan national football team
The Uzbekistan national football team represents Uzbekistan in association football and is controlled by the Uzbekistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Uzbekistan...
won the Asian Games
Football at the 1994 Asian Games
Football at the 1994 Asian Games was held in Hiroshima, Japan from October 1 to October 17, 1994.The women's tournament doubled the Asian qualification of 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, where China PR and Japan qualified.-Medal winners:-Medal table:...
at a time when the country was just finding its feet after gaining independence. But in 2003, the national association enjoyed more success: for the first time, the country's U-20 team qualified for the FIFA World Youth Championship
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
which was hosted by the UAE.
Uzbekistan's best achievement at Asia Cup was a fourth place finish at 2011 AFC Asian Cup
2011 AFC Asian Cup
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar on 7–29 January 2011. It was the fifteenth time the tournament has been held, and the second time it has been hosted by Qatar, the other being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup...
.
Most successful football clubs in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
are FC Bunyodkor
FC Bunyodkor
FC Bunyodkor is an Uzbek football club based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.The club finished second in the 2007 Uzbek League season and made the semi-finals of the 2008 AFC Champions League...
and FC Pakhtakor. Uzbekistani clubs participate in the annual CIS Cup.
Most famous uzbekistani footballers since independence from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
are Server Djeparov
Server Djeparov
Server Djeparov is an Uzbekistani professional football midfielder who currently plays for Al-Shabab. He has won the Asian Footballer of the Year awards twice, first in 2008 and the other in 2011.-Early life:He was born on 3 October 1982 in Chirchiq, Uzbek SSR...
(2008 Asian Footballer of the year), Igor Shkvyrin
Igor Shkvyrin
Igor Shkvyrin is a retired Uzbek professional footballer who played for several clubs in Europe and Asia and the Uzbekistan national football team.- Career :...
(top goal scorer of 1994 Asian Games), Mirjalol Qosimov and Maksim Shatskikh
Maksim Shatskikh
Maksim Aleksandrovich Shatskikh , is an Uzbek professional footballer who plays for Arsenal Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League....
.