Bakhodir Akhmedov has officially taken charge as the new head coach of the Uzbekistan national futsal team, stepping into the role with an ambitious mandate to steer the country to continental dominance. The announcement was formalized during a press conference at the Uzbekistan Futsal Federation in Tashkent, where federation chief Bekzod Mamatkulov declared that the primary targets for the new coaching staff are winning the AFC Futsal Asian Cup and securing qualification for the upcoming FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Key Takeaways: Bakhodir Akhmedov has been appointed head coach of Uzbekistan’s national futsal team. His explicit objectives are to secure the AFC Futsal Asian Cup title and qualify for the next World Cup. He succeeds Spanish coach Jose Maria Mendes, who resigned in early October due to serious medical considerations.
The managerial transition follows the unexpected departure of Spanish tactician Jose Maria Mendes, who was forced to terminate his contract prematurely at the start of October. Medical professionals had advised Mendes to suspend his high-pressure coaching duties immediately to undergo medical therapy. Confronted with a pivotal phase in national team preparation, the domestic federation opted for a proven local strategist familiar with the players, systemic challenges, and competitive realities of Asian futsal.
Introducing the new manager to reporters, Mamatkulov underscored Akhmedov’s profound legacy and extensive experience across domestic and international arenas. As a professional player, Akhmedov repeatedly claimed the national championship and Cup, earning silver and bronze medals at the Asian championship. In his prior coaching tenure, he guided the national squad to podium finishes at two Asian Cups and achieved a historic milestone by leading Uzbekistan into the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time. Mamatkulov also highlighted Akhmedov’s international pedigree, accumulated through years of working alongside seasoned foreign specialists.
Moving forward, the federation plans to restructure aspects of the domestic league and establish stronger technical partnerships with premier global futsal schools. Focus will also be directed toward arranging high-profile international friendlies against world-class opposition and bolstering youth talent scouting pipelines. Akhmedov is slated to assemble the squad for comprehensive training camps in the coming weeks to begin competitive preparations.
Source: podrobno.uz