On February 16, 2024, heavy news came from the Tajikistan Football Federation - 57-year-old Croatian manager Petar Šegelt, after two years in charge of the Tajikistan men's national team, chose to leave his post due to the expiration of his contract.
Tajikistan Football Association Announcement
The Tajikistan Football Federation (TFF) has expressed its sincere gratitude for the contribution of Petar Šegelt. During his tenure, the Croatian soccer expert led the Tajikistan team to a breakthrough at the Asian Cup, where it managed to reach the quarterfinals.
Under Shergert's tactical guidance, the Tajikistan national team won 11, drew 7 and lost 6 of their 24 matches and won one match each in the 2022 King Thai Cup and the 2023 Malaysian Independence Cup. None of this would have been possible without his subtle tactical planning and team management.
It's worth noting that Tajikistan's performance at the Asian Cup was particularly impressive. They won 1, drew 1 and lost 1 in the group stage, advancing to second place in the group. Tajikistan eliminated the UAE on penalties in the 1/8 finals, but ultimately fell to runners-up Jordan 0-1 in the quarterfinals. It is also worth noting that Tajikistan's world ranking has risen to 99th from 106th before the Asian Cup.
With the departure of Shegelt, the Tajikistan Football Federation will be announcing a new head coach in the coming days.
