1. Early Life and Career Beginnings
Aleksandr Lobanov's early life saw him born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and he began his professional football journey in 2005, transitioning through various clubs in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
1.1. Birth and Background
Aleksandr Lobanov was born on January 4, 1986, in Tashkent, which was then part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. Of Russian descent, he holds dual citizenship, allowing him to represent both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Despite being eligible for either nation, he chose to play for Uzbekistan.
1.2. Early Club Activities
Lobanov commenced his professional playing career in 2005 with Sogdiana Jizzakh. In 2007, he made a move to the Kazakhstani club Kaisar. Prior to joining Pakhtakor Tashkent, he also played for Jaykhun Nukus.
2. Club Career
Aleksandr Lobanov has played for several clubs throughout his career, most notably with Pakhtakor Tashkent, where he established himself as a key goalkeeper, and a brief loan spell with Persepolis F.C.
2.1. Pakhtakor
Lobanov joined Pakhtakor Tashkent in 2012, signing a three-year contract. He quickly became the club's main goalkeeper, playing a crucial role in their successes. During his tenure, Pakhtakor won three Uzbek League titles in 2012, 2014, and 2015. In the 2015 season, he made 41 appearances, which included one appearance in the Uzbekistan Super Cup.
2.2. Persepolis
In January 2016, Lobanov secured a six-month loan transfer to Persepolis F.C., a prominent club in the Persian Gulf Pro League in Iran. Upon joining, he was assigned the jersey number 55. Lobanov made a significant impact during his short spell, recording his first clean sheet for Persepolis on February 12, 2016, in a 1-0 victory against Foolad. His time at Persepolis concluded with the club finishing as Persian Gulf Pro League runner-up in the 2015-16 season.
2.3. Later Career
Following his loan spell at Persepolis, Lobanov returned to Pakhtakor Tashkent. He has continued to play as a goalkeeper for Pakhtakor Tashkent in the Uzbek League.
3. International Career
Aleksandr Lobanov has represented the Uzbekistan national football team at the international level, making his debut in a significant World Cup qualifying match.
As a dual citizen of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and with his Russian heritage, Lobanov was eligible to represent any of these three nations. He ultimately chose to play for Uzbekistan. Despite being called up to the Uzbekistan national team on numerous occasions, he made his official debut on September 3, 2015. This came during a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Yemen national team, where he started as the goalkeeper.
4. Statistics
4.1. Club Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup (Includes Uzbekistan Cup and Hazfi Cup) | Continental (Includes ACL) | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Clean Sheet | Apps | Clean Sheet | Apps | Clean Sheet | Apps | Clean Sheet | ||
| Pakhtakor | 2012 | Uzbek League | 19 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 13 |
| 2013 | 25 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 34 | 14 | ||
| 2014 | 26 | 14 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 31 | 16 | ||
| 2015 | 30 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 41 | 15 | ||
| Uzbekistan Total | 100 | 50 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 131 | 58 | ||
| Persepolis | 2015-16 | PGPL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| Career Total | 102 | 50 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 133 | 58 | ||
5. Honours
Aleksandr Lobanov has earned several significant team honours throughout his club career, particularly with Pakhtakor Tashkent and a runner-up finish with Persepolis.
5.1. Club Honours
- Uzbek League (3): 2012, 2014, 2015
- Persian Gulf Pro League runner-up: 2015-16 (with Persepolis)