2018 FC Astana season
The 2018 FC Astana season is the tenth successive season that the club will play in the Kazakhstan Premier League, the highest tier of association football in Kazakhstan. Astana are defending Kazakhstan Premier League Champions, having been crowned Champions for the forth time the previous season. Astana will continue in the UEFA Europa League having finished second in their group at the end of the 2017 season. In the summer Astana will enter the Champions League, at the Second Qualifying Stage, and the Kazakhstan Cup. Season events. On 8 January, Stoilov signed a new contract with  Astana, but left to take over the vacant Kazakhstan nation team Managers position on 1 March, with Grigori Babayan being announced as his interim replacement on the same day. On 1 June 2018, Astana announced Roman Hryhorchuk as the club's new manager. On 25 June, FC Tambov announced that Marat Bystrov had left to join Astana on a three-year contract, whilst also being rented to FC Tobol until the end of the 2018 season. Igor Shitov left Astana on 3 July after his contract was not renewed, with Astana signing Antonio Rukavina and Richard Almeida the following day . On 12 July, Astana announced that Junior Kabananga had re-joined Astana on a year-long loan deal from Al-Nassr. On 14 July, Astana announced that Pedro Henrique had joined Astana on a year-long loan deal from PAOK. On 20 July, Astana announced the signing of Rangelo Janga from KAA Gent. On 23 July, Astana announced that Đorđe Despotović and Marko Stanojević had both left the club. On 27 July, Astana confirmed that their all-time leading goalscorer Patrick Twumasi had moved to La Liga club Deportivo Alavés, the following day Yuriy Pertsukh was loaned to Atyrau. On  17 August, Hryhorchuk left Astana on compassionate leave with Grigori Babayan again stepping in as Caretaker Manager.