"The Uzbekistan Football Association has signed a contract with Fabio Cannavaro -— a renowned specialist, one of the best defenders of his generation, a four-time World Cup participant, and the winner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup," the Uzbekistan Football Association said in an Instagram post also shared on Cannavaro's official account.

"The Italian coach will lead our national team in preparation for the upcoming World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico."

Uzbekistan have qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

Cannavaro made his name as a rugged centre-back first with Parma and then Juventus.

He moved on to Real Madrid where he won La Liga twice and then returned to Juventus for a season before ending his career in Dubai.

As a coach, he has been in charge of teams in China PR, Saudi Arabia and Croatia, as well as his homeland.

His most successful experience was winning the Chinese Super League with Guangzhou Evergrande in 2019.

Photo: AFP