Srecko Katanec has resigned as Uzbekistan head coach due to undisclosed health issues less than two months before the country’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Kyrgyzstan and Iran, the Uzbekistan Football Association said on Wednesday.
The 61-year-old, who coached Slovenia at the 2002 World Cup, leaves the role with Uzbekistan in a strong position to qualify for the World Cup for the first time, the nation sitting in second place in Group A of Asia’s preliminaries.
“The head coach of the national team of Uzbekistan, Srecko Katanec, decided to cancel his contract with the Uzbekistan Football Association by mutual consent due to health problems,” the federation said in a statement on Instagram.
“The Slovenian coach noted with regret that he cannot perform his duties in a full and professional manner in his current state.”
Katanec took over as coach in August 2021 and has steered Uzbekistan to second in their qualifying group for the World Cup, three points behind leaders Iran and three points ahead of third-placed UAE with four matches remaining.
