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Kazakhstan will play its first game after a four-month hiatus on the road. The team is scheduled to face the Faroe Islands in a Nations League group stage match on September 26.
The squad will convene even earlier—a break in the domestic league is planned after September 17 to allow for preparation. However, it remains unclear who will lead this training camp or how it will be structured.
How did the Kazakhstan national team end up without a coach?
To recap, the national team's previous coach, Talgat Baisufinov, decided to step down on June 22. According to the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF), it was his personal decision to leave the post.
Under Baisufinov's leadership, the team secured draws against strong Macedonian and Belgian sides, as well as a convincing victory over Liechtenstein.
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His predecessor, Ali Aliev, also left by mutual consent, though under different circumstances—his final match was a crushing 0-5 away defeat to Belgium.
What is the KFF saying about the search for a new coach?
Four days after Baisufinov's resignation, KFF President Marat Omarov announced that the search for a successor had already begun, with both domestic and foreign specialists under consideration.
"The most important thing right now is to find the right head coach. The coaching council is currently reviewing candidates from both the local and international markets. We will select the specialist who is the best fit for us," he stated.
The KFF press service later announced the requirements for the head coaching position. Notably, the successful candidate will have to work under high expectations and deliver immediate results.
The key requirements for the candidate include:
- Experience under pressure: Ability to work within the tight timeframes of short-term training camps, high expectations, and high-stakes official matches.
- Tactical flexibility: The capability to quickly adapt the game model and match plan based on specific opponents, the current scoreline, squad limitations, and match scenarios.
- Leadership and communication: A demanding yet respectful management style, the ability to remain calm in crisis situations, and the skill to effectively defend the team in the media.
- Multidisciplinary staff: The ability to build a balanced team of specialists, including analysts, fitness coaches, and goalkeeping coaches.
Who could become the new head coach: The shortlist remains private
While the national team awaits its new leader, numerous names have circulated in the media and on social networks.
For instance, there were claims that the federation considered the high-profile Australian coach of Greek descent, Ange Postecoglou (who has since taken over a club in Saudi Arabia). Additionally, agent Antoniu Stoian stated that he offered former national team managers Edward Iordănescu (Romania), Roberto Moreno (Spain), and Chris Coleman (Wales) to the KFF, though he claims they were rejected.
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One reason why a foreign coach might be appointed is the presence of Australian Scott Munn, who holds a senior position at the KFF and possesses extensive experience in Europe.
Another foreign candidate whose name resurfaces during every coaching search in Kazakhstan is former manager Magomed Adiev.
He led the national team to the Euro 2024 playoffs before working in the Russian Premier League. His most recent appointment was at the Belarusian club ML Vitebsk, but he departed shortly after starting following a scandal.
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Among domestic specialists, three names are mentioned most frequently: Zhetysu coach Kairat Nurdauletov, Astana's Grigory Babayan, and Kairat's Rafael Urazbakhtin. Nurdauletov has experience with the U21 national team, while the other two have been the most successful coaches in the domestic league in recent years.
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It should be noted that the Kazakhstan Football Federation has not made its list of candidates public. It is highly likely that there are other names on the list that remain hidden from the press and fans for now.
Kazakhstan National Team: Upcoming Matches
As a reminder, following its campaign in UEFA Nations League B, the Kazakhstan national team has been relegated back to League C. It was in this tier a few years ago that the team topped its group, earning a spot in the Euro qualifying play-offs.
This time, the team’s opponents will be the Faroe Islands, Slovakia, and Moldova.
Notably, while the Nations League previously took place across three international windows, many objectives will now be decided during the very first call-up. Between September 26 and October 6, the national team will play four matches in quick succession — two away and two at home.
- September 26. Faroe Islands vs. Kazakhstan;
- September 29. Slovakia vs. Kazakhstan;
- October 2. Kazakhstan vs. Moldova;
- October 6. Kazakhstan vs. Faroe Islands.
The remaining two fixtures will be held in November, with the main qualifying stage for Euro 2028 set to kick off next year.
