Fabio Cannavaro

Fabio Cannavaro was in the dugout as Uzbekistan head coach on 23 June 2026 when Cristiano Ronaldo's brace helped Portugal defeat his side 5-0 in Group I, eliminating Uzbekistan from the tournament. The defeat was a chastening afternoon for a coaching career still finding its level at international management.

As a player, Cannavaro is one of the finest defenders in football history. He captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, marshalling a defence that conceded only 2 open-play goals in the entire tournament. That performance earned him the Ballon d'Or, making him the last defender to win the award. He won two Serie A titles with Juventus and two La Liga titles with Real Madrid across a career spanning 136 Italy caps.

Cannavaro moved into management after retiring in 2011, taking charge of clubs in China, Saudi Arabia and UAE before accepting the Uzbekistan post. His tactical acumen at club level has not yet translated consistently at international level, and the 5-0 drubbing by Portugal on 23 June 2026 underscores the gap between Uzbekistan's ambitions and the elite of world football.