This is a Macron Tajikistan national team 2022-23 home jersey featuring the number of star midfielder Parvizdzhon Umarbayev.

Since being accepted as a FIFA member in 1994, Tajikistan have slowly developed into a competitive national team. Until recently, they had achieved little success at international with their only major achievement being winning the AFC Challenge Cup in 2006. Over the past few years Tajikistan have progressed significantly, with legendary manager Petar Šegrt leading the national team into their first appearance at a major tournament after they qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. At the tournament, they went in as one of the lowest ranked teams, but surprised many of Asia's heavyweights, recording a draw against China in their opening match and then defeating Lebanon to reach the knockout stages. In their Round of 16 tie, they shocked the UAE and defeated them on penalties, before narrowly losing 1-0 to eventual finalists Jordan in the Quarter-Finals. The team reached an all-time high FIFA ranking of 99 in February 2024 and with their domestic league progressing in recent years, as well as an increasing number of Tajik players moving abroad, hopes are high that they can continue to progress in years to come.

Parvizdzhon Umarbayev is one of the leading players in the current generation of Tajik football and is one of the very few footballers from Tajikistan to be playing their club football at a top tier European league. Umarbayev was born in Tajikistan and initially played his youth football with local side Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda, located in the western part of the country near the border with Uzbekistan. In 2009, he joined the youth team of Russian Premier League club Rubin Kazan, where he was eventually promoted to their senior team in 2012. Umarbayev only played one match for the senior team at Rubin Kazan and later had spells with Russian 2^nd tier clubs Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk & Khimik Dzerzhinsk before returning to Tajikistan in 2015, signing with FC Istiklol. After two strong seasons with Istiklol, in 2016 Umarbayev joined Lokomotiv Plovdiv, one of the top clubs in Bulgaria and a regular qualifier for the UEFA Europa League. He has remained with Lokomotiv until 2022 and played a key role in the club winning consecutive Bulgarian Cup titles in 2018-19 & 2019-20. Although Umarbayev played one match for Russia’s U-18 national team in 2012, he has represented Tajikistan at senior international level sine debuting in 2015 and has since scored 10 goals in 55 matches for his country.

Tajikistan 2022-23 Home (#7- UMARBAYEV) Jersey/Shirt