This is a Joma FC Istiklol 2016-17 home jersey featuring the name and number of star striker Manuchekhr Dzhalilov (often spelt Jalilov).

FC Istiklol compete in the Tajikistan Premier League and are based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital and largest city. FC Istiklol were founded in 2007 (the word ‘istiklol’ means independence in Tajik) and first gained promotion to the top tier of football in Tajikistan in 2009. The club was co-founded by Rustam Emomali, the eldest son of Tajikistan’s president Emomali Rahmon, who served as the club’s captain as well as their main striker for several years and is now President of the Tajikistan Football Federation. They won their first league title in 2010 and in the past decade the club has won 8 league titles, including every league title consecutively since 2014, already making them the most successful club in the league’s history. FC Istiklol have also achieved success at continental level, winning the AFC President’s Cup in 2012 and also reaching the final of the AFC Cup in 2015 & 2017.

Manuchekhr Dzhalilov is one of the greatest footballers in Tajikistan’s football history and is the all-time leading scorer for the national team with 17 goals in 31 international matches. He was born in Tajikistan, but spent most of his youth in Russia and began his club career with Russian Premier League giants Lokomotiv Moscow. He later moved to Russian second tier club Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk before returning to Tajikistan in 2015 when he signed with FC Istiklol. He won the league player of the year award in both the 2015 & 2016 seasons with Istiklol and quickly established himself as the top player in the Tajikistan Premier League. In 2018, he was signed by Indonesian club Sriwijaya and after one season moved to fellow Indonesian side Persebaya Surabaya for the 2019 season before re-joining FC Istiklol in January 2020.

FC Istiklol 2016-17 Home (M. JALILOV #63) Jersey/Shirt