Neftchi’s return to the AFC Champions League Elite after a quarter of a century away marks a historic occasion for the current Uzbek champions, embarking on their first group stage appearance in their history. On the touchline, new coach Islom Ismoilov has a record of his own in his sights, set to become the youngest coach in the tournament’s history.
That achievement isn’t lost on the man himself, reposting the upcoming achievement on social media as soon as he took up the job in December. For some, celebrating an accomplishment that was still nearly nine months away may have felt a little premature, given the more immediate task of leading a club on a domestic title retention campaign, but for Ismoilov this was just another stop on a career trajectory that continues to rise.
The career coach
At 34-years of age, it’s difficult to truly appreciate Ismoilov’s experience as a coach to date, despite a CV that already boasts significant successes. Genetics play a part, the son of former Pakhtakor coach Murod Ismoilov, Ismoilov junior made his way in the coaching world in his late teens at the Tashkent champions’ academy, before making his first team break with ambitious Turon in the Uzbek third tier.
Successive promotions to the Super League followed, gaining plenty of admirers along the way. While Turon’s ambition fizzled out, Ismoilov’s grew from strength to strength.
He went on to succeed in youth football taking the Uzbek U14s through to U17 Asian Cup glory last year, and the last 16 of the subsequent U17 World Cup, losing out to eventual champions Italy. His stock was soaring; becoming the face on and off the field of the next generation of Uzbek coaches. Driven by a slick and highly engaged social media presence, and unequivocal confidence, Ismoilov has become the pin-up for modern Uzbek football, at a crucial juncture in his nation’s football growth.
Whilst Uzbekistan can boast a number of promising up and coming coaches, namely Timur Kapadze, now at Navbahor and Sergey Tokov at Xorazm, Ismoilov challenges the traditional Uzbek coaching narrative further. Focused on an attack first mentality, with a high priority put on analytics and statistical focus, Ismoilov’s tactical philosophy has always flown against the more pragmatic, short-term approach taken by previous generations.
His idea is rooted in identity, a single-mindedness that persists in the way his team plays. Playing at speed, on the front foot in possession, Ismoilov is Central Asia’s starkest comparison to a modern European coach, focusing on high energy, and quick attacking football; a style of play, that despite concerns, has proven highly effective in the Uzbek Super League.
On fire in Fergana
Arriving in Fergana at the start of the season, Ismoilov had big shoes to fill, succeeding Vitaliy Levchenko, the first coach to bring success to Neftchi since the turn of the century. Inheriting a squad that clinched silverware on the back of defensive stability and a knack for squeezing out tight results, the identities didn’t necessarily fit, but that didn’t last long.
Five matches in Neftchi had scored 16 goals, conceded just once, and were top of the table. Ambitious, relentless and clinical; this was a shot across the bow of any doubters. In addition to a strong domestic start, a dominant victory in the Super Cup against title rivals Pakhtakor, provided Ismoilov with his first piece of Uzbek silverware, and another record for the fledgling coach.
Neftchi’s renaissance hasn’t materialised by accident, with regional governor Khayrullo Bozorov placing ambitions on the football pitch as a central plank of social renewal over the last few years, including his choice of an up-and-coming star manager, supported by experienced overseas support staff, and an expansion in transfer activity.
In addition to national team stars Jamshid Iskandarov and Alisher Odilov, who drove the club to title success last season, the club have been backed again with talent this year, with a regular goalscorer in Croatian Stipe Perica and classy full back Koffi Kouao picked up from France’s Ligue 1, Neftchi have been able to bring in a greater array of talent, and crucially add much needed depth to challenge on multiple fronts.
This marks the single biggest question hanging over their ambitions for the season. As Nasaf Qarshi experienced this time last year, their league title tilt collapsed in having to juggle domestic and continental duties. A squeezed calendar will be challenging for Ismoilov’s side, particularly given the type of high press workload expected of his squad.
On the run up to their Champions League return, and holding only a slender title lead over Pakhtakor, cracks are starting to emerge, thumped 6-2 unexpectedly by Nasaf having rotated his squad in preparation for continental duties. A significant lesson for a coach still on a learning curve.
Champions League and Uzbekistan
The focused attention on their ACL Elite campaign, however, is not solely due to Neftchi’s first appearance in 25 years, but as an achievement that is being treated as a national marker. Not since the days of Bunyodkor has an Uzbek team unapologetically set such lofty public ambitions outside the domestic league. Ever since their title triumph in December, attention has been laser focused on the tournament kick off, with a clear objective of not just making up the numbers, but actually taking it to their opposition.
Limits to their aspirations may inevitably be written for them, however. The key strength of Neftchi is in their passionate home support, yet three of their four home matches in the ACL Elite league phase are against Saudi opposition; three former continental champions no less, capable of pulling on individual talent valued higher than Netchi’s entire squad.
The stakes may be against them on paper, but there are opportunities to be had, namely against Persian opposition, facing Esteghlal and Tractor on neutral ground due to the Iranian war, and the glaringly critical opener against Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in Fergana. While the fixture list is set against them, Ismoilov’s positive approach can quickly turn their momentum and confidence with victory in this opening clash.
With his ascension seemingly knowing no limits, the very Instagram post that greeted his appointment back in December, may well need an update within the next year.
From the youngest coach in Uzbekistan domestic football, to the youngest coach in the AFC Champions League in a few years, where next for the 34-year-old tactician? The national team? Asia? Europe? Watch this space.
