Double role for Server Djeparov at AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Official Draw

Server Djeparov will keenly follow the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Official Draw on Friday as the Uzbekistan legend awaits to see which teams his country will be drawn with in the Continent's showpiece football tournament.

Djeparov will join the AFC Asian Cup’s Digital Media team at the draw, when the 24 participating countries will learn their group stage opponents for next January’s tournament.

The Central Asian country’s most capped player, Djeparov will offer his exclusive insight into the proceedings at Dubai’s Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa after flying in from Tehran following his club side Esteghlal’s Hazfi Cup final a day earlier.

Currently plying his trade for the Iranian giants, Djeparov has turned out for clubs in his native Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, while he has also appeared for his country more than 120 times.

After beginning his career at Navbohor Namangan, Djeparov went on to enjoy unprecedented  success first at Pakhtakor and then Bunyodkor as the midfielder claimed an incredible seven league-cup doubles in seven seasons.

Winners' medals kept on coming after departing his homeland, as Djeparov won league titles with FC Seoul in Korea Republic and Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia, while the Korean FA Cup with Seongnam FC was yet another success on foreign soil.

The 35-year-old has starred at four AFC Asian Cups for his country, reaching the quarter-finals in 2004, 2007 and 2015, and captaining the White Wolves to a best ever semi-final appearance in 2011.

In 2016, the Chirchiq native returned to Uzbekistan and enjoyed further success with the new force of Uzbek football, Tashkent side Lokomotiv. After achieving another league-cup double, he was on the move again, this time to Iran to team up with Esteghlal.

The Iranian league season recently drew to a close with Esteghlal winning their final two games to finish third and confirm qualification to the 2019 AFC Champions League. The Tehran side, though, are still in the 2018 edition and face domestic rivals Zobahan in the last 16 this month.

Before that, the highly decorated midfielder can add more silverware to his collection when Esteghlal take on second-tier side Khouneh Be Khouneh Babol in the Hazfi Cup final as his success story shows no sign of slowing.

On an individual level, no player has won more caps for Uzbekistan than the 126 that Djeparov has to his name, while his two AFC Player of the Year awards – in 2008 and 2011 – underline how important he has been to clubs and country throughout his career.

Odil Ahmedov now skippers an Uzbek side that also boasts a number of players who helped the country win the AFC U23 Championship in China at the beginning of 2018.

Djeparov, though, remains keen to add to his caps and, if selected for his country in the UAE early next year, will be in line to participate at a record fifth AFC Asian Cup, alongside his international teammate Ignatiy Nesterov.

Before which, Djeparov will turn his attention to the eagerly awaited draw, which sees his native Uzbekistan in Pot 2 ahead of what will be their seventh successive AFC Asian Cup.

Source: the-AFC.com