Vadim Abramov returns as Uzbekistan national team head coach replacing Hector Cuper

Abramov returns to the head coaching role he previously held from 2010 to 2012, with his first assignment to come in next month’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers fixtures.

As well as holding head coaching positions at several of the country’s top clubs, most recently FC Bunyodkor, Abramov guided Uzbekistan to the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals in 2011, their best-ever finish at the tournament.

Cuper’s tenure as White Wolves boss comes to end after 14 months in charge and having reached the Round of 16 at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, with this month’s unexpected 2-0 Asian Qualifiers defeat to Palestine his final game in charge.

Uzbekistan’s Round of 16 exit from UAE 2019 was their earliest elimination for the Asian Cup since 2000, with their 2-0 loss to Palestine ultimately ending Cuper’s time in charge of the side now 88th in the FIFA Rankings.

The first game of Abramov’s second spell in charge will come at Uzbekistan’s home Asian Qualifiers clash against Yemen on October 10, before they travel to Singapore for an away fixture five days later.