The search for a new head coach for Uzbekistan’s national football team has entered an intriguing stage. According to Football-Asian, one of the main candidates is Paulo Bento, the former head coach of Portugal and South Korea.
The Uzbekistan Football Association is looking for an experienced coach who can lead the team to its first-ever World Cup in 2026. Previously, they approached Joachim Löw, the 2014 World Cup-winning coach, but the German tactician rejected Tashkent’s serious offer. Legendary Turkish coach Fatih Terim was also on the list, but he has not yet been convinced.
Attention is now focused on 56-year-old Portuguese coach Paulo Bento, who has extensive experience at both club and international level. Bento began his coaching career in 2005 with Sporting, later managing Brazil’s Cruzeiro, Greece’s Olympiacos, and China’s Chongqing Lifan.
Between 2010 and 2014, he led Portugal’s national team, taking them to the Euro 2012 semifinals. Later, he managed South Korea and guided them to the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, earning respect across Asian football. In recent years, he worked with the UAE national team.
According to reports, the coming weeks could be decisive in the negotiations. “Whether Bento will accept the call of Uzbekistan, the leading flag-bearer of Central Asia, is still unclear. However, his presence on the list of candidates already highlights the country’s strong ambition,” the report states.
Thus, a new chapter may soon open for Uzbekistan’s national team. Bento’s decision will determine the future direction, and fans across the country are following this process with great anticipation.
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