The Men at the Helm: Khaydarov against Sanchez, Maddaloni and Al Azani

The-AFC.com takes a look at the head coaches of Qatar, China, Uzbekistan and Oman in part one of our profiles of the men in the dugout at China 2018.

Felix Sanchez – Qatar

Qatar’s senior national team coach Felix Sanchez will also take charge of the U23 side at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship as he did two years ago when Al Annabi finished fourth at the competition.

Prior to that, the Spaniard’s finest moment in the Gulf nation would have been leading his young charges to the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship title in Myanmar, Qatar’s first AFC title.

Massimiliano Maddaloni – China

An Italian coach with a lengthy C.V., Massimiliano Maddaloni began his first head coach position in Asia last year at the helm of the hosts’ youth sides, having held assistant coach positions at Guangzhou Evergrande from 2012 to 2015 and more recently China’s senior national team.

Having worked alongside compatriots Marcello Lippi, Fabio Cannavaro and Ciro Ferrara, Maddaloni also enjoyed spells at Juventus prior to arriving in China.

Ravshan Khaydarov – Uzbekistan

Ravshan Khaydarov famously led an Uzbekistan side to an impressive quarter-final finish at the 2015 U-20 World Cup, the best performance by an Asian side in the tournament in New Zealand.

A year earlier, Khaydarov – a two-time Uzbek League and Cup double winner with Pakhtakor – had guided Uzbekistan to a semi-final place at the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship in Myanmar, several of whom may feature at China 2018.

Hamad Al Azani – Oman

Involved in the Omani coaching scene since 2002, former Al Nahda defender Hamad Al Azani at just 44 already boasts a wealth of experience and has been coach of the senior side on several occasions.

As well as being involved in Oman’s qualifying campaign for the 2007 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups, Al Azani was also head coach of Al Nahda during the 2008 AFC Cup.

Source: The-AFC.com