Pakhtakor Fc

Pakhtakor literally means "cotton-grower".

Pakhtakor

Full name	Pakhtakor Football Club
Nickname(s)	Uzbek: Paxtakorlar (The cotton grower) Uzbek: Sherlar (The Lions) Uzbek: Xalq jamoasi (People's team)
Founded	8 April 1956; 68 years ago (1956-04-08)
Ground	Pakhtakor Central Stadium
Capacity	35,000
President	Bobur Shodiev
Manager	Maksim Shatskikh
League	Uzbekistan Super League
2023	Uzbekistan Super League, 1st of 14 (champions)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Pakhtakor was the only Uzbek club to play in the top-level Soviet football league and the only Central Asian club to appear in a Soviet Cup final. Playing in the Uzbek League since 1992, the club has been the undisputed powerhouse in Uzbekistan since the fall of the Soviet Union, winning fourteen Uzbek League titles, including six in a row from 2002 to 2007. Pakhtakor also won seven consecutive domestic cups between 2001 and 2007, winning eleven cups in total. Players from the club have won Uzbek footballer of the Year honours eight times, and Pakhtakor teammates swept the top three spots in 2002. Club managers have been named Uzbek coach of the year twice.

The team is also a perennial competitor in the AFC Champions League, having reached the semi-finals of the competition twice in 2003 and 2004. Pakhtakor currently holds the record in number of consecutive participations in the AFC Champions League, participating in 11 tournaments from 2002 to 2013.

The word Pakhta (پخته) in تورکچه means cotton and "kor" (kar) is from verb , ( kâshtan (Dari langaage ), koshtan, kishtan (uzbek pronunciation) ) which means "to cultivate"; so the combination "Pakhtakor" produces a job name and literally means "cotton maker".

The early Soviet period

Pakhtakor's first official match was on 8 April 1956, date considered to be the club's "birthday". Its first match was played against a team from the city of Perm, Russia (then called Molotov city), presumably FC Zvezda Perm. The first goal in Pakhtakor history was scored by Laziz Maksudov on a penalty shot and Maksudov's goal was the only and game-winning strike.

The team was formed in three months, and the government invited the senior trainer Valentin Bekhtenev from Moscow to recruit the best Tashkent players for the new Pakhtakor. At the time, the club was to represent Uzbekistan in Soviet football.

In 1959, the club was promoted to the Soviet Top League for the first time. During the 1960s, Pakhtakor's squad was anchored by the striker Gennadiy Krasnitskiy, who led it to a 6th-place finish in 1962. After periods back and forth between the Top League and the Soviet First League, the club reached the final of the Soviet Cup competition in 1968 – the only Central Asian club to reach a Soviet Cup final – losing to Torpedo Moscow 1–0.

In 1971, Pakhtakor again departed from the First League, but was not long detained in the lower division as it gained promotion the following year.

Pakhtakor was the only Uzbek side to appear in the history of the USSR Championship during the Soviet era, appearing the highest echelon 22 times, and recording 212 wins, 211 draws, and 299 losses. Their best league finish was 6th place, which they achieved twice, in 1962 and 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Aircrash 1979

 

In August 1979, Pakhtakor made it back to the Soviet Top League, but shortly thereafter disaster struck the club and Soviet football. During a flight to play Dinamo Minsk, Pakhtakor's plane was involved in a mid-air collision over Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukrainian SSR. All 178 people aboard both planes involved died.

Seventeen Pakhtakor players and staff members died in the crash:

• Idgay Borisovich Tazetdinov (Trainer), (13.01.1933)
• Mikhail Ivanovich An (Half-back), (19.11.1952)
• Vladimir Ivanovich Fedorov (Forward), (05.01.1956)
• Alim Masalievich Ashirov (Defender), (25.01.1955)
• Ravil Rustamovich Agishev (Defender), (14.03.1959)
• Constantine Alexandrovich Bakanov (Half-back), (25.05.1954)
• Yuri Timofeevich Zagumennykh (Defender), (07.06.1947)
• Alexander Ivanovich Korchenov (Half-back), (04.05.1949)
• Nikolai Borisovich Kulikov (Defender), (25.04.1953)
• Vladimir Vasilyevich Makarov (Forward), (09.03.1947)
• Sergey Constantinovich Pokatilov (Goalkeeper), (20.12.1950)
• Victor Nikolayevich Churkin (Forward), (25.01.1952)
• Sirozhiddin Akhmedovich Bazarov (Forward), (10.08.1961)
• Shukhrat Musinovich Ishbutaev (Forward), (08.02.1959)
• Vladimir Valievich Sabirov (Forward), (14.01.1958)
• Vladimir Vasilyevich Chumaks (Manager), (08.12.1932)
• Mansur Inamdzhanovich Talibdzhanov (Club administrator), (04.04.1944)

Annually, in August, the club sponsors a youth tournament in memory of the people lost in the disaster.

Following the tragedy in 1979 and spurred on by its prolific goalscorer Andrei Yakubik a few years later, Pakhtakor had its best record in 1982, finishing sixth and in front of several Russian and Ukrainian football powerhouses such as Zenit Saint Petersburg, CSKA Moscow, and Shakhtar Donetsk amongst the few. Pakhtakor had a point deducted that season due to exceeding the allowed limit for the games tied (drawn), but it did not influence the club's final standings.

The lean years: 1984–1990

After leading Pakhtakor to its best finish, age finally caught up with Yakubik and he moved back to his hometown of Moscow to continue his football career. With the departure of their great forward, the club struggled and spent six years in the Soviet First League. Although the discontent of their fans grew, Pakhtakor's reemergence as a major footballing force followed fast upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Modern period, since 1992

 

After the USSR collapsed, a new page began in the club's history. 1992 saw Pakhtakor participate in the first season of the Uzbek Oliy League. Since 1992 Pakhtakor have become the most successful Uzbek club with 10 Uzbek League titles, and 11 Uzbek Cups. Until 2014 the club is the only team to have participated in all seasons of the AFC Champions League since its inauguration in 2002. Since 2002 the club participated 11 times in AFC Champions League.

The participation in the AFC Champions League season 2011 was not successful. On 4 May 2011 in a match against Al-Nassr Pakhtakor lost and finished its Asian campaign. In that match, because of many injured players, Pakhtakor's coach Ravshan Khaydarov formed a starting squad from the youth team players and so the club made a record in the AFC Champions League history as the youngest team of the tournament with average players age of 21,8. The average age of club players for season 2011 was 23,3. In the 2014–15 seasons, Pakhtakor won its 10th and 11th League champion titles.

Domestic record

Continental record

As of match played 28 November 2023

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1994–95	Asian Cup Winners' Cup	Preliminary round	Ravshan Kulob	10–0
			Taraz	0–3
			Alay-Osh-Pirim	5–1
			Merw	4–0
1998–99	Asian Cup Winners' Cup	First round	Khujand	4–1	1–1	5–2
		Second round	Nisa Aşgabat	6–0	0–5	6–5
		Third round	Al-Ittihad	0–1	0–3	0–4
1999–2000	Asian Club Championship	First round	Irtysh Pavlodar	5–2	0–7	5–9
2001–02	Asian Cup Winners' Cup	First round	SKA-PVO Bishkek	3–1	1–2	4–3
		Second round	Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda	2–2	1–3	3–5
2002–03	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Persepolis	1–0	1st
			Al-Talaba	3–0
			Nisa Aşgabat	3–0
		Semi-final	BEC Tero Sasana	1–0	1–3	2–3
2004	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Zob Ahan	2–0	0–1	1st
			Qatar	1–0	0–0
			Riffa	w/o	w/o
		Quarter-final	Al Wahda	4–0	1–1	5–1
		Semi-final	Seongnam	0–0	0–2	0–2
2005	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al-Ahli	2–1	0–3	2nd
			Al-Zawra'a	1–2	0–1
			Al-Jaish	4–1	2–0
2006	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Qadsia	2–2	1–2	2nd
			Foolad	2–0	3–1
			Al-Ittihad	2–0	1–2
2007	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al-Hilal	0–2	0–2	2nd
			Kuwait	2–1	1–0
			Esteghlal	w/o	w/o
2008	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Qadsia	0–1	2–2	2nd
			Erbil	2–0	5–1
			Al-Gharafa	2–0	2–2
2009	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al-Hilal	1–1	0–2	2nd
			Saba Qom	2–1	2–0
			Al-Ahli	2–0	2–1
		Round of 16	Ettifaq	2–1
		Quarter-final	Al-Ittihad	1–1	0–4	1–5
2010	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al-Shabab	1–3	1–2	2nd
			Sepahan	2–1	0–2
			Al Ain	3–2	1–0
		Round of 16	Al-Gharafa	0–1
2011	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al Sadd	1–1	1–2	4th
			Al-Nassr	2–2	0–4
			Esteghlal	2–1	2–4
2012	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al-Ittihad	1–2	0–4	3rd
			Baniyas	1–1	0–2
			Al-Arabi	3–1	1–0
2013	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Lekhwiya	2–2	1–3	4th
			Al Shabab	1–2	1–0
			Ettifaq	1–0	0–2
2015	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al Ain	0–1	1–1	3rd
			Naft Tehran	2–1	1–1
			Al-Shabab	0–2	2–2
2016	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al-Hilal	2–2	1–4	3rd
			Tractor Sazi	1–0	0–2
			Al Jazira	3–0	3–1
2018	AFC Champions League	Play-off round	Al-Gharafa	1–2
2019	AFC Champions League	Preliminary round 2	Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya	2–1
		Play-off round	Al-Nasr	2–1
		Group stage	Persepolis	1–0	1–1	3rd
			Al Ahli	1–0	1–2
			Al Sadd	2–2	1–2
2020	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Shabab Al-Ahli	2–1	0–0	1st
			Shahr Khodro	3–0	1–0
			Al-Hilal	0–0	1–2
		Round of 16	Esteghlal	2–1
		Quarter-final	Persepolis	0–2
2021	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Tractor	3–3	0–0	3rd
			Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya	1–0	0–0
			Sharjah	1–1	1–4
2022	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Sepahan	1–3	1–2	4th
			Al-Duhail	0–3	2–3
			Al-Taawoun	5–4	1–0
2023–24	AFC Champions League	Group stage	Al Fayha		0–2	2nd
			Al Ain	0–3	3–1
			Ahal	3–0	1–1

Since Bunyodkor's promotion to the Uzbek League, matches between club and their rival from capital - football powerhouse Pakhtakor - is being considered by supporters on both sides and football journalists too as the Uzbek capital derby or Toshkent derby.

The match between Pakhtakor and Neftchi Farg'ona is one of the most popular rivalries in Uzbek League held since 1992. The first match between the two clubs was played on 25 May 1992 in Tashkent.

 

Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium was built in 1956 with a capacity of 55.000 spectators. The stadium was renovated in 1996, and in July 2007 club management announced the next renovation. Reconstruction work finished in 2009, the capacity was reduced to 35.000 and the stadium became an all-seater stadium. In January 2010, the stadium was chosen as the best sporting facility in 2009 of Uzbekistan.

The famous Uzbek singers Shahzoda, Rustam Gaipov, groups "Parvoz"(ex), "Quartet", "Bojalar" and "Ummon" dedicated their songs to Pakhtakor Football Club.

Current squad

As of 21 March 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   UZB Nikita Shevchenko 2 DF   UZB Behruzbek Askarov 4 DF   UZB Abubakir Ashurov 5 DF   UZB Mukhammadkodir Khamraliev 7 DF   UZB Khojiakbar Alijonov 8 MF   UZB Diyor Kholmatov 10 FW   SRB Dragan Ćeran 11 FW   UZB Pulatkhuzha Kholdorkhonov 12 GK   UZB Vladimir Nazarov 13 DF   UZB Islom Anvarov 15 DF   UZB Diyor Ortikboev 16 DF   UZB Temur Odilov 17 MF   UZB Dostonbek Khamdamov 18 MF   UZB Saidumarxon Saidnurullaev 21 GK   UZB Otabek Boymurodov 22 DF   UZB Umar Adkhamzoda 24 MF   UZB Kirill Todorov

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 MF   UZB Sardor Sabirkhodjaev 29 DF   UZB Mukhriddin Fazliddinov 31 MF   UZB Mukhammadali Usmonov 33 MF   UZB Doniyor Abdumannopov 35 GK   BLR Pavel Pavlyuchenko 40 MF   KGZ Kimi Merk 43 DF   UZB Mukhammad Mansurov 44 DF   UZB Mirkomil Abdurazzokov 47 MF   UZB Sardor Mirkobilov 55 DF   UZB Mukhammadrasul Abdumajidov 63 MF   UZB Yakhyo Urinboev 73 MF   UZB Sunnatilla Poyonov 77 DF   UZB Dilshod Saitov 78 MF   UZB Fazliddin Zukhriddinov 88 DF   UZB Shakhzod Azmiddinov 90 DF   UZB Javokhir Alijonov 99 FW   UZB Abbos Ergashboev

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW   UZB Mukhammadali Urinboev (at Brentford F.C.)

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF   UZB Abdurauf Buriev (at Olympic Tashkent)

Youth Squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   RUS Nikita Shevchenko 18 MF   UZB Saidumarkhon Saidnurullaev 21 GK   UZB Otabek Boymurodov 26 MF   IRN Mohammadreza Kooshki 29 MF   UZB Muhriddin Pazildinov 31 MF   UZB Muhammadali Usmonov 32 MF   UZB Asadbek Beglarkhonov 37 DF   UZB Sarvarbek Adhamov 38 DF   UZB Temur Odilov 39 MF   UZB Shahzod Imomov 40 FW   KGZ Kimi Merk 41 MF   UZB Rustambek Fomin 42 DF   UZB Muhammadali Zohidov

No. Pos. Nation Player 43 GK   UZB Maksim Murkayev 44 MF   UZB Daler Tuxsanov 45 DF   UZB Rustam Pazilov 46 DF   UZB Alisher Mominov 47 DF   UZB Javohir Bahodirov 48 DF   UZB Behzod Nematov 49 MF   UZB Dilshod Abdullayev 50 GK   UZB Ali Murodjonov 51 MF   UZB Nodirkhon Habibullaev 52 MF   UZB Nurlan Ibraimov 55 DF   UZB Muhammadrasul Abdumajidov 62 MF   UZB Danat Miftakhutdinov 75 GK   UZB Shahzod Suyunov 99 FW   UZB Akbar Uktamov

Current technical staff

As of 15 July 2022

Position	Name
Head coach	Maxim Shatskikh
Assistant coach
Assistant coach
Goalkeeper coach

Domestic

• Uzbekistan Super League
  • Champions (16) (record): 1992, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Uzbekistan Cup
  • Winners (13) (record): 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019, 2020
  • Runners-up: 1996, 2008, 2018, 2021
• Uzbekistan Super Cup
  • Winners: (2) 2021, 2022
  • Runners-up: 1999, 2015, 2016
• Uzbekistan League Cup
  • Winners: 2019
• Soviet First League
  • Winners: 1972
• Soviet Cup
  • Runners-up: 1967–68

International

• CIS Cup
  • Winners: 2007
  • Runners-up: 2008
• IFA Shield (IFA)
  • Winners: 1993
• AFC Champions League
  • Semi-finalists: 2002–03, 2004

Former players

Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Pakhtakor.

USSR/Uzbekistan

Former USSR countries

Europe

South America

Africa

Asia