Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 07/04 15:00 - FC Istiklol v FK Khujand W 5-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 07/04 15:00 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v Eskhata W 5-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 06/30 14:00 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v Dushanbe-83 W 5-0
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 06/21 14:00 - FC Istiklol v FK Khujand W 4-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 05/16 12:00 - Eskhata v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe W 0-2
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 05/12 12:00 - FC Kuktosh v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe D 1-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 05/09 13:00 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v CSKA Pamir Dushanbe W 1-0
AFC Champions League 04/30 19:00 6 [1] FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v AGMK [4] L 1-2
AFC Champions League 04/27 19:00 5 [3] Shabab Al Ahli Dubai v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe [1] W 0-1
AFC Champions League 04/24 19:00 4 [1] Al Hilal Riyadh v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe [2] W 1-4
AFC Champions League 04/21 19:00 3 [1] Al Hilal Riyadh v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe [2] L 3-1
AFC Champions League 04/18 19:00 2 [1] AGMK v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe [3] W 2-3
AFC Champions League 04/15 19:00 1 FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai D 0-0
Tajikistan Super Cup 04/03 11:00 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v FK Ravshan W 2-0
Tajikistan Cup 02/17 10:00 - FC Istiklol v Regar Tadaz W 3-2
Tajikistan Cup 01/30 09:00 - FC Istiklol v Dushanbe-83 L 0-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 10/04 10:30 - Dushanbe-83 v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe W 1-2
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 09/30 10:55 - FC Kuktosh v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe D 1-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 09/27 11:00 - CSKA Pamir Dushanbe v FC Istiklol L 1-0
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 09/20 11:00 - Khatlon Bokhtar v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe D 1-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 09/08 14:00 - FC Istiklol v Regar Tadaz W 6-1
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 08/24 12:00 - FC Istaravshan v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe W 1-2
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 08/15 14:00 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v FK Khujand W 4-0
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 08/12 13:00 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v Faizkand W 3-0
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 08/08 12:00 - Lokomotiv-Pamir v FK Istiqlol Dushanbe W 0-3
Tajikistan Cup 08/03 13:30 - FC Istiklol v Mohir Yavan W 11-0
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 07/12 13:30 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v Lokomotiv-Pamir W 1-0
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 07/04 12:30 - Faizkand v FC Istiklol W 0-4
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 06/28 12:30 - FK Khujand v FC Istiklol W 1-3
Tajikistan Vysshaya Liga 06/20 13:30 - FK Istiqlol Dushanbe v FC Istaravshan W 8-0

Wikipedia - FC Istiklol

Football Club Istiklol (Tajik: Клуби Футболи Истиқлол, romanized: Klubi futboli «Istiqlol», Persian: باشگاه فوتبال استقلال دوشنبه ) is a Tajik professional football club owned by Maldivian Conglomerate Maziya. Founded in 2007, the club competes in the Ligai Olii Tojikiston, the top flight of Tajik football league system. It was founded to commemorate the Independence of Tajikistan; Istiklol in Tajik means 'independence'.

History

Early years (2007–2009)

Istiklol Dushanbe was established in November 2007, under the Presidency of Shohruh Saidov. In 2008, Istiklol competed in the Dushanbe Group of the Second Division under head coach Kanoat Latifov, winning all 30 league games with a +154 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 club's first Tajik League goal in their 2–0 victory over Ravshan Kulob on 4 April 2009.

2010s

In 2010, under coach Alimzhon Rafikov the team won the Super Cup, the national cup and league. In the first Tajik 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 5 October – 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. On 20 March 2012, Istiklol's contract with Rafikov had expired at the end of the 2011 season and they had decided not to renew it, with Mubin Ergashev taking over in a caretaker capacity.

As of January 2014 the club's manager has been Mubin Ergashev.

On 22 November 2015, Manuel Bleda scored the club's 500th league goal. Istiklol's 4–2 victory over Barki Tajik on 17 April 2016, saw the club stretch their unbeaten run in the Tajik League to 40 games, with their last defeat occurring in November 2013 against Khayr Vahdat. During this run Istiklol have scored 146 goals, conceding just 17. Also, the team was qualified for the 2015 AFC Cup final against Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. of Malaysia, in which both teams were the finalist for the first time in the competition. Istiklol were defeated by the team with the score of 1–0 on the home soil in Dushanbe.

On 10 July 2016, Istiklol fired their entire coaching staff, including manager Mubin Ergashev. Three days later, 13 July 2016, Istiklol announced Nikola Lazarevic as their new manager.

On 25 September 2016, Istiklol suffered their first League defeat since 3 November 2013, a stretch of 51 games, 2–1 away to Ravshan Kulob. On 29 October 2016, Istiklol defeated Barki Tajik 5–1, to claim their fifth Tajik League title. Two days later, 31 October 2016, Istiklol announced that they had appointed Mukhsin Mukhamadiev for the 2017 season. On 18 September 2017, Istiklol defeated Panjshir 5–0 to secure their sixth Tajik League title. On 18 October 2017, Istiklol drew 2–2 with Bengaluru in the second leg of their Inter-zone play-off final, progressing to the final of the AFC Cup for the second time in three seasons. On 4 November 2017, Istiklol were defeated 1–0 by Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya thanks to a second half Emad Mohsin goal. After being knocked out of the 2018 AFC Cup at the group stage, manager Mukhsin Mukhamadiev resigned as manager six-days later on 22 May 2018, with Alisher Tukhtaev being appointed as acting head coach.

On 3 December 2018, Khakim Fuzailov was announced as Istiklol's new manager. Fuzailov resigned as manager of Istiklol on 27 June 2019 after they failed to progress from the group stages of the AFC Cup, with Alisher Tukhtaev being appointed as Caretaker Manager in his place. On 27 September 2019, Istiklol beat Kuktosh 6–1, to secure their eighth Tajik League title. On 24 November 2019, Istiklol won 4–2 penalties to clinch their eighth Tajik Cup title.

2020s

On 21 January 2020, Istiklol defeated Lokomotiv Tashkent 1–0, to win their first ever AFC Champions League match. After Mubin Ergashev took charge of Istiklol for their two AFC Champions League matches, Vitaliy Levchenko was appointed as the club's new manager on 17 February 2020, with Alisher Tukhtaev returning to an assistants role.

On 10 September 2020, the 2020 AFC Cup was cancelled. 10 days later, 20 September 2020, Istiklol drew 1–1 with Khatlon to secure their ninth league title and seventh in a row.

On 13 April, Istiklol announced former manager Mubin Ergashev as their interim manager for their AFC Champions League group games due to having the required Pro Coaching License Vitaliy Levchenko did not. Istiklol finished their first AFC Champions League group stage top of their group, which included Al Hilal, Shabab Al Ahli and AGMK, qualifying for the knockout stage where they faced Persepolis.

On 21 June 2021, Ryota Noma scored the club's 800th league goal. On 21 November 2021, Istiklol defeated Dushanbe-83 8–0 to secure their 10th league title, and 8th in a row. On 27 June 2022, Vitaly Levchenko and his coaching staff left Istiklol after their contracts expired, with Assistant Manager Alisher Tukhtaev being placed in interim charger.

On 29 October 2022, Alisher Tukhtaev guided Istiklol to their ninth Tajik Cup title with a 5–3 victory on penalties over Kuktosh Rudaki after the match finished 2-2. Six days later, 4 November 2022, Istiklol beat Khatlon 1–0 to secure their 11th Tajikistan Higher League title, and 9th in a row.

Istiklol squad against Persepolis in the 2023 AFC champions league at Azadi Stadium.

On 18 January 2023, Igor Cherevchenko was appointed as the new Head Coach of Istiklol on a one-year contract.

On 1 November 2023, Istiklol defeated Ravshan Kulob 4–2 on penalties in the 2023 Tajikistan Cup Final, after an initial 1–1 draw, to claim their 10th Tajikistan Cup title. A month later, on 1 December 2023, Istiklol defeated Kuktosh Rudaki 4–1 to secure their 10th league title in a row, and 12th overall. On 11 February 2024, Istiklol announced that Igor Cherevchenko, Yuri Baturenko, Alisher Tukhtaev and Lilia Sidorkina had all left the club after their contracts had expired. On 15 March 2024, Istiklol announced that Nikola Lazarevic had been appointed as their new Head Coach on a one-year contract.

On 19 June 2024, Ehson Panjshanbe scored the club's 1,000th league goal.

On 4 October 2024, Istiklol announced the return of Igor Cherevchenko as their Head Coach after Nikola Lazarevic had left his role as Head Coach in mid September 2024.

Sponsorship

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2010–2012 Li-Ning
2013–2016 Joma Dushanbe International Airport
2017–2019 Avesto
2020– Siyoma

Domestic history

Season League Tajik Cup Top goalscorer Manager
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
2008 2nd 1st 30 30 0 0 186 28 90 - Khudoidod Nusratov 85 Kanat Latifov
2009 1st 4th 18 11 3 4 41 18 36 Winner Yusuf Rabiev 14 Kanat Latifov
Salohiddin Ghafurov
2010 1st 1st 32 26 6 0 76 17 84 Winner Yusuf Rabiev 30 Salohiddin Ghafurov
Alimzhon Rafikov
2011 1st 1st 40 35 3 2 130 16 108 Runner-Up Yusuf Rabiev 32 Alimzhon Rafikov
2012 1st 3rd 24 16 5 3 76 13 53 Runner-Up Dilshod Vasiev 24 Mubin Ergashev (Caretaker)
Nikola Kavazović
2013 1st 2nd 18 14 1 3 47 8 46 Winner Dilshod Vasiev 10 Nikola Kavazović
Oleg Shirinbekov
2014 1st 1st 18 16 2 0 65 10 50 Winner Dilshod Vasiev 15 Mubin Ergashev
2015 1st 1st 18 16 2 0 69 5 50 Winner Manuchekhr Dzhalilov 22 Mubin Ergashev
2016 1st 1st 18 14 3 1 67 20 45 Winner Manuchekhr Dzhalilov 22 Mubin Ergashev
Nikola Lazarevic
2017 1st 1st 21 17 4 0 64 14 55 Runner-Up Dilshod Vasiev 16 Mukhsin Mukhamadiev
2018 1st 1st 21 16 3 2 36 16 51 Winner Sheriddin Boboev 12 Mukhsin Mukhamadiev
Alisher Tukhtaev (Caretaker)
2019 1st 1st 21 16 3 2 61 19 51 Winner Sheriddin Boboev 16 Khakim Fuzailov
Alisher Tukhtaev (Caretaker)
2020 1st 1st 18 14 3 1 61 11 45 Quarterfinal Manuchekhr Dzhalilov 16 Vitaliy Levchenko
2021 1st 1st 27 21 5 1 78 9 68 Runner-Up Manuchekhr Dzhalilov 18 Vitaliy Levchenko
2022 1st 1st 22 14 6 2 46 13 48 Winner Manuchekhr Dzhalilov 16 Vitaliy Levchenko
Alisher Tukhtaev (Caretaker)
2023 1st 1st 22 16 4 2 56 12 52 Winner Alisher Dzhalilov 13 Igor Cherevchenko

Continental history

As of match played 1 October 2024
Competition Pld W D L GF GA
AFC President's Cup 10 6 3 1 20 7
AFC Cup 42 19 10 13 69 55
AFC Champions League 22 5 4 13 21 33
AFC Champions League Two 2 0 0 2 0 5
Total 76 30 17 29 110 100
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2011 AFC President's Cup Group B Jabal Al Mukaber 2–0 1st
Yeedzin 8–0
Yadanarbon 1–1
Final Stage Group A Taipower FC 0–2 3rd
Balkan 1–1
2012 AFC President's Cup Group C Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari 1–0 1st
Balkan 2–1
Final Stage Group A Dordoi Bishkek 2–0 1st
Phnom Penh Crown 1–1
Final Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari 2–1
2015 AFC Cup Group C Qadsia 2–0 2–2 1st
Ahal 5–2 2–1
Erbil 0–0 1–3
Round of 16 Al-Wahda 1–1 (p)
Quarter-finals Pahang 4–0 1–3 5–3
Semi-finals Al-Kuwait w/o 0–4 w/o
Final Johor Darul Ta'zim 0–1
2016 AFC Cup Group B Naft Al-Wasat 0–1 0–2 4th
Al-Faisaly 0–0 2–4
Tripoli 1–3 0–1
2017 AFC Cup Group D Altyn Asyr 1–0 1–1 1st
Alay Osh 3–1 4–1
Dordoi Bishkek 2–0 4–1
Inter-zone play-off semi-final Ceres Negros 4–0 1–1 5–1
Inter-zone play-off final Bengaluru 1–0 2–2 3–2
Final Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 0–1
2018 AFC Cup Group D Alay Osh 1–0 3–2 2nd
Altyn Asyr 2–3 2–2
Ahal 1–0 1–0
2019 AFC Champions League Preliminary round 2 AGMK 2–4
2019 AFC Cup Group D Dordoi Bishkek 4–1 1–2 2nd
Altyn Asyr 1–1 1–1
Khujand 3–0 2–3
2020 AFC Champions League Preliminary round 2 Lokomotiv Tashkent 1–0
Play-off round Al-Ahli 0–1
2020 AFC Cup Group D Dordoi Bishkek -
Altyn Asyr
Khujand 2–0
2021 AFC Champions League Group A Al Hilal 4–1 1–3 1st
Shabab al-Ahli 0–0 1–0
AGMK 1–2 3–2
Round of 16 Persepolis 0–1
2022 AFC Champions League Group A Al Hilal 0–3 0–1 4th
Al-Rayyan 2–3 0–1
Sharjah 2–0 1–2
2023–24 AFC Champions League Group E Persepolis 1–1 0–2 4th
Al-Duhail 0–0 0–2
Al Nassr 1–1 1–3
2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 Group C Sepahan 0–4
Al-Wehdat
Sharjah 0–1
FK Istiqlol Dushanbe is a professional soccer team based in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan. The team was founded in 2008 and has since become one of the most successful clubs in Tajikistan, consistently competing for top honors in the country's top division, the Tajikistan Higher League.

The team's name, Istiqlol, translates to "independence" in Tajik, reflecting the club's pride in representing their country on the soccer field. The team plays their home matches at the Istiklol Stadium, a modern and well-equipped venue that can hold up to 20,000 spectators.

FK Istiqlol Dushanbe boasts a talented roster of players, both domestic and international, who are known for their skill, determination, and teamwork on the field. The team is known for their attacking style of play, with quick passing, creative movement, and clinical finishing.

FK Istiqlol Dushanbe has a strong fan base that passionately supports the team at home and away matches. The club's colors are blue and white, and their crest features a lion, symbolizing strength and courage.

Overall, FK Istiqlol Dushanbe is a respected and competitive team in Tajikistan, with a rich history and a bright future ahead in the world of soccer.