“Timur Kapadze has been appointed head coach of the Uzbekistan national team,” the Uzbekistan Football Association said in a post on Instagram.

“(UFA) studied and analysed a number of candidates for the head coach of the national team, holding talks with local and foreign experienced experts. At the same time, the recommendations presented by the coaching council were also considered in detail."

“Taking into account that there is little time left ahead of the decisive matches of the World Cup qualifiers, Kapadze is familiar with the team and players, has played for the national team for many years and worked as a head coach and assistant coach.

“In the current situation, UFA believes Kapadze’s coaching talent, responsibility, position among the team members and always striving for a higher goal will provide a positive result in these important matches.”

Uzbekistan are currently second in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26, three points behind leaders IR Iran and three ahead of third placed the United Arab Emirates. The top two finishers in the group are guaranteed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Kapadze takes over having previously led the senior national team on an interim basis in 2018 before working with the country’s Olympic team from 2021.

The second place finish at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 qualified Uzbekistan for the Olympic Games for the first time, where Kapadze’s team were eliminated at the end of the group phase following losses to Spain and Egypt and a draw with the Dominican Republic.

Uzbekistan host Kyrgyz Republic in Tashkent on March 20 before travelling to Tehran to face the Iranians five days later.