Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Former head coach of Portugal’s national football team Paulo Bento is being considered as a candidate for the position of head coach of the Uzbekistan national team, Championat Asia reports.

The 56-year-old specialist brings extensive experience in both club and international football. Over the years, he has managed teams such as Sporting, Cruzeiro, Olympiacos, and Chongqing Lifan. At the national team level, Bento led Portugal from 2010 to 2014, then South Korea from 2018 to 2022, and most recently worked with the United Arab Emirates national team from 2023 to 2025.

Earlier, it was reported that the Uzbekistan Football Association had extended an offer to Fatih Terim, the former head coach of Turkey’s national team, after Joachim Löw declined the position. Now, several renowned coaches are among the leading contenders for the role of Uzbekistan’s head coach.