Hector Cuper signs contract until 2022 with Uzbekistan
Cuper guided Egypt to first World Cup in 28 years
The White Wolves aiming to reach first global finals in Qatar
Uzbekistan have hired Hector Cuper as their new coach, hani Egypt to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
The Asian side will be hoping Cuper can work some similar magic for them, after he ended the Pharaohs’ exile from the global finals – leading them to Russia 28 years on since their last appearance at Italy 1990.
Signing a deal through until Qatar 2022, Cuper will be tasked with guiding Uzbekistan to their first ever appearance at the World Cup, having pushed for a place at the last two tournaments. Only a penalty shootout denied them a place in an Intercontinental Play-off on the road to Brazil 2014, while just goal difference saw them miss out on another place in the Asia's play-off this time around.
Cuper – last year’s CAF Coach of the Year – could not make Egypt’s trip to Russia a triumphant one, losing all three of their games to finish bottom of Group A. This will be his third spell as a national team coach, having also led Georgia for just over a year. He took charge of the likes of Valencia and Inter Milan at the turn of the millennium.
His first competitive challenge will be the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. Placed in Group F, they will face Japan – Asia’s top performers in Russia, Oman and Turkmenistan.