Server Djeparov

Uzbek footballer (born 1982)

Server Reshatovich Djeparov (; Uzbek: Server Reshatovich Jeparov, Uzbek Cyrillic: Сервер Решатович Жепаров, born 3 October 1982) is a former Uzbek professional football midfielder who is the assistant coach of the Uzbek national team. He has won the Asian Footballer of the Year award twice in 2008 and 2011.

He began his football career with Navbahor Namangan in 1997 at the age of 15. However, Bunyodkor's matches in the Uzbek League championship and the Asian Champions League meant that he was unable to attend. Anyway, this season is often described as the best season of his career.

In July 2010, Djeparov was loaned out to FC Seoul of the K League 1 until the end of season on his own request. He scored his K League 1 debut goal in a 2–0 victory against Incheon United on October 2, 2010. He posted 1 goal and 7 assists in 16 matches in the K League 1 that season, playing an instrumental role in Seoul's first K League win in 10 years. On February 8, 2011, Seoul announced that they had made the move permanent for an undisclosed fee rumored to be about US$850,000, and signed a 3 year contract with Djeparov.

After playing 15 games in Seoul, he was transferred to Al Shabab FC of the Saudi Premier League. The deal was announced at July 9, 2011. He was unremarkable on the pitch, and was rumored to be unhappy with his limited playing opportunities and Saudi Arabia's weather.

In February 2013 he made a move to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma of the K League 1. In January 2014 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma was purchased from the Tongil Group by Seongnam City Government. Seongnam City Government made major changes to the club, which included renaming it Seongnam FC. As Ivan Vuković, the previous owner of the number 10 jersey, decided to change his number to 32, Djeparov decided to take his number.

On 15 January 2017, Djeparov completed his move to Esteghlal. He signed an internal one and half year contract worth $500,000 including bonuses, however his internal contract could not be registered with Esteghlal due to a FIFA imposed transfer ban. Later he joined Sepahan on loan until the end of the season.

Djeparov made his debut for Sepahan in a 3–0 defeat against Machine Sazi on 9 February 2017. On 5 March, he scored his first goal for Sepahan against city rivals Zob Ahan. After his loan at Sepahan expired it was originally reported that Djeparov would not return to Esteghlal, however after negotiations between the player and the club, Djeparov announced he will return to Esteghlal.

On 28 June 2017, he made his debut for Esteghlal in the 1–0 defeat against Sanat Naft Abadan entering as a substitute for Hassan Beyt Saeed. On 11 August, he scored his first goal for Esteghlal in the 1–0 win against Tractor Sazi, a screamer which was 30 yards away from the goal. Uzbekistan Football Federation praised his goal on their official Instagram later. On 6 December, he scored his first brace for the club in a 3–0 victory against his previous club Sepahan. His first goal at the Hazfi Cup wascame in a 3–0 win against Iranjavan on 20 December 2017. He also played in the final of the competition, won 1–0 against Khooneh be Khooneh. On 31 December 2017, Djeparov was ranked the 20th best player of Asia by Football Tribe's website. He was also named as the Persian Gulf Pro League's top assister of the year at the end of the season. On 26 July 2018 Esteghlal chairman Amirhossein Fathi announced that Djeparov will leave the club after the parties could not agree on the terms to renew his contract.

On 26 July 2018, Djeparov joined Kazakh side Zhetysu until the end of season. He made his debut in the League on 16 September in an away match with FC Tobol and scored equalized with a penalty 2–2, he played 290 minute.

Djeparov joined Metallurg Bekabad in January 2019.

Djeparov has made 128 appearances and scored 25 goals for the senior Uzbekistan national team since May 2002 until September 2017. In 2011, he became the captain of the Uzbekistan and posted 2 goals and 2 assists in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, leading his side to its first ever semifinals in the cup. Seven months later, he became the assistant coach of Uzbekistan.

Djeparov is of Crimean Tatar ethnicity and speaks fluent Russian, as well as comprehensible English, but only barely speaks Uzbek. Raul was named after Real Madrid legend Raúl. A few years before, his daughter Veronika was born.