Fabio Cannavaro, 52, is close to being named head coach of the Uzbekistan national football team with a salary package of €3.5–4 mln a year, according to Sport-Express citing a source familiar with the deal. The figure includes expenses for his coaching staff.
If finalised, the deal would make Cannavaro the fourth highest-paid coach of a national side, behind Carlo Ancelotti of Brazil, Thomas Tuchel of Germany and Julian Nagelsmann of Germany.
Former Uzbekistan striker and Spartak Moscow player Jafar Irismetov criticised the choice of Cannavaro, telling Sportmail.ru that the country needed «a coach of Klopp’s level» to reach the World Cup and perform well. He argued that Cannavaro may have been chosen more for his name and playing career than for his coaching record, adding that Uzbekistan should opt for a manager with a stronger track record.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Cannavaro and the Uzbek side have reached a verbal agreement, with an official announcement expected on Monday, October 6. Previous reports indicated that Cannavaro had earlier declined offers to manage both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
Jurgen Klopp, often cited as the benchmark by critics, is a German coach who led Liverpool from 2015 to 2024, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2019, the UEFA Super Cup the same year and the FIFA Club World Cup. Known for his high-intensity gegenpressing style, Klopp remains a reference point in modern football coaching.
