Istiqlol Dushanbe

FC Istiqlol Dushanbe

Full name	Istiqlol Dushanbe
Founded	November 2007
Ground	Central Republican Stadium Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Ground Capacity	22,000
Chairman	Shohruh Saidov[1]
League	Tajik League
2012	3rd[2]
Home colours Away colours

FC Istiqlol Dushanbe (Tajik: Истиклол), (Persian: استقلال‎), is football club based in Tajikistan. The currently play in the top division of the country.

History

FC Istiqlol (Dushanbe) was established in November 2007, under the Presidency of Shohruh Saidov. In 2008, Istiqlol competed in the Dushanbe Group of the second under the guidance of head coach Kanat Latifov, winning all 27 league games with a +147 goal difference and winning promotion to the Tajik League.^[3]

In 2009, in their debut in the Tajik League, led by new head coach Salohiddin Gafurov, the team finished fourth.^[4] The team had some experienced players and some young players mostly from Tajikistan national under-17 football team that won bronze in AFC U-17 Championship 2006 and reached round 16 at 2007 FIFA U-17 World Championship, winning two trophies - the traditional winter-spring tournament Rustam Doltabaev and the Tajik Cup.^[4]

In 2010, under coach Alimzhon Rafikov the team won the Super Cup,^[4] the national cup and league.^[5] In the first Tajikistan's Super Cup, defeating three-time national champion Vakhsh Qurghonteppa 2-0, following two goals from Dilshod Vosiev in extra time.^[4] In the final of the 2010 Tajik Cup, which traditionally takes place on October 5 - the birthday of the country's President Emomali Rahmon, Istiqlol with large score 5-0 defeated FK Khujand.^[5] Following victory in the 2010 Tajik League, FC Istiqlol qualified for the first time for both the CIS Cup and the 2011 AFC President's Cup.^[6]

Managers

• Kanat Latifov (2008–09)
• Salohiddin Ghafurov ^[7] (2009–10)
• Alimzhon Rafikov (2010–12)
• Nikola Kavazović (2012-June 2013)
• Oleg Shirinbekov (July 2013-)

Current squad

As on January 2014^[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Nikola Stošić 2 DF Robert Zhilin 3 DF Glaúber da Silva 4 DF Akmal Saburov 5 DF Akhtam Nazarov 6 DF Naim Ulmasov 9 MF Umed Sharipov 10 MF Willer 11 MF Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev 12 FW Jahongir Ergashev 13 MF Firuz Bobiev

No. Position Player 15 MF Vaysiddin Safarov 16 GK Alisher Tuychiev 17 FW Dilshod Vasiev 18 MF Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev 20 FW Jahongir Ergashev 21 FW Shahzod Sulaymonov 23 MF Aleksandr Kudryashov 30 GK Emomali Soniev 88 MF Nuriddin Davronov FW Joscimar

Famous players

This list of former players includes those who received international caps (in bold) while playing for the team.^{[citation needed]}

• Nuriddin Davronov
• Davron Ergashev
• Odil Irgashev
• Yusuf Rabiev
• Kurbonali Sobirov
• Mahmadali Sodikov
• Ruslan Tavakkalov
• Farhod Tohirov
• Alisher Tuychiev
• Alisher Ulmasov

Achievements

Team Honours

• Tajik League: 2

2010,^[5] 2011^[9]

• Tajik Cup: 2

2009,^[4] 2010,^[5]

• Tajik Super Cup: 4

2010,^[4] 2011, 2012, 2013

• AFC President's Cup: 1

2012

Individual Honours

• Tajikistan's Most Valuable Player of year 2010: Yusuf Rabiev
• Tajikistan Best defender award for year 2010: Eradzh Radzhabov
• Tajikistan's Coach of year 2010: Alimzhon Rafikov

Sponsorship

• Official sponsor Li Ning^[10]

See also

• Esteghlal Tehran Football Club
• Esteghlal Ahvaz Football Club
• Esteghlal Meli-Sanati Khuzestan Football Club

External links

• (Russian) Official club website

References