Full name | Football Club Istiklol |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Tajik: Тоҷҳо (The Crowns) |
Founded | November 2007 |
Ground |
Central Republican Stadium Dushanbe, Tajikistan |
Capacity | 24,000 |
Chairman | Shohruh Saidzoda |
Manager | Mukhsin Mukhamadiev |
League | Tajik League |
2016 | Tajik League, 1st |
Website | Club home page |
Football Club Istiklol (Tajik: Дастаи Футболи Истиқлол, Dastayi Futboli Istiqlol; Persian: دسته فوتبال استقلال, Dastaye Futbole Esteqlâl) is a professional football club based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The currently play in the top division of the country. The name of the team was inspired by Esteghlal Tehran, one of the most popular football clubs in Iran and Asia.
Istiklol (Dushanbe) was established in November 2007, under the Presidency of Shohruh Saidov. In 2008, Istiklol competed in the Dushanbe Group of the second under the guidance of head coach Kanat Latifov, winning all 27 league games with a +147 goal difference and winning promotion to the Tajik League.
In 2009, in their debut in the Tajik League, led by new head coach Salohiddin Gafurov, the team finished fourth. The team had some experienced players and some young players mostly from Tajikistan national under-17 football team that won bronze in AFC U-17 Championship 2006 and reached round 16 at 2007 FIFA U-17 World Championship, winning two trophies – the traditional winter-spring tournament Rustam Doltabaev and the Tajik Cup.Dilshod Vasiev scored the clubs first Tajik League goal in their 2–0 victory over Ravshan Kulob on 4 April 2009.
In 2010, under coach Alimzhon Rafikov the team won the Super Cup, the national cup and league. In the first Tajikistan's Super Cup, defeating three-time national champion Vakhsh Qurghonteppa 2–0, following two goals from Dilshod Vasiev in extra time. In the final of the 2010 Tajik Cup, which traditionally takes place on October 5 – the birthday of the country's President Emomali Rahmon, Istiqlol with large score 5–0 defeated FK Khujand. Following victory in the 2010 Tajik League, FC Istiqlol qualified for the first time for both the CIS Cup and the 2011 AFC President's Cup.