Football Club Alashkert (), commonly known as Alashkert, is an Armenian football club based in the capital

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...

, founded in 1990 in Martuni and after folding in 2000 re-founded in 2011. They currently play in the

Armenian Premier League The Armenian Premier League (, known as the Armenian Fastex Premier League for sponsorship reasons) is the top association football, football competition in Armenia. From 1936 to 1991, the competition was held as a regional tournament within th ...

. The home stadium of the team is the

Alashkert Stadium Alashkert Stadium () is a association football, football stadium in Yerevan, Armenia. It was known as Nairi Stadium until 2013, when it was renamed Alashkert by the new owners. The stadium is located in Shengavit District, adjacent to Lake Yerev ...

. The club headquarters are located on Saryan street 25, Yerevan. Although based in Yerevan they are in fact named after the historic town of Alashkert in the

Western Armenia Western Armenia (Western Armenian: Արեւմտեան Հայաստան, ''Arevmdian Hayasdan'') is a term to refer to the western parts of the Armenian highlands located within Turkey (formerly the Ottoman Empire) that comprise the historic ...

, now

Eleşkirt Eleşkirt () is a town of Ağrı Province in Turkey. It is the seat of Eleşkirt District.İl ...

. Alashkert have won the

title on four occasions and the

Armenian Cup The Armenian Cup () is the main football cup competition of Armenia. In its original form as the Armenian Cup, it started in 1939, when Armenia was a republic of the Soviet Union. It served as a qualification tournament for the Soviet Cup, and it ...

once. The club has also won the

Armenian Supercup The Armenian Supercup is a match that is played between the Armenian Premier League The Armenian Premier League (, known as the Armenian Fastex Premier League for sponsorship reasons) is the top association football, football competition in Ar ...

three times. They are owned by Bagrat Navoyan, a businessman and founder of Bagretour LLC, and have a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian club

Botafogo Botafogo (local/standard alternative Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: ) is a beachfront neighborhood (''bairro'') in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a mostly upper middle class and small commerce community, and is located between the hills of M ...

since August 2017. In 2021, Alashkert qualified for the

2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League Increment or incremental may refer to: *Incrementalism, a theory (also used in politics as a synonym for gradualism) *Increment and decrement operators, the operators ++ and -- in computer programming *Incremental computing *Incremental backup, wh ...

, become the first club from Armenia to qualify for a UEFA organsied club competition.

History

Football Club Alashkert was founded in 1990 in the town of Martuni of

Gegharkunik Province Gegharkunik (, ) is a provinces of Armenia, province (''Administrative divisions of Armenia, marz'') of Armenia. Its capital and largest city is Gavar. Gegharkunik is inhabited by approximately 209,669 people and the majority are ethnic Armenian ...

. In 1992, the team played in the

Premier League The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football Lea ...

representing Martuni and using the City Stadium of the town as their home venue. However, at the end of the season the team finished last in the table, being relegated to the First League. As a result, the club withdrew from the competition. In 1998, FC Alashkert returned to professional football and participated in the First League finishing the table in 6th position. In 1999, they did not participate in the First League competition and later in early 2000, the club was dissolved.

Revival in 2011

In late 2011, FC Alashkert were re-founded by Bagrat Navoyan, a businessman native of Martuni. They entered the 2012–13 Armenian First League competition and won the championship, booking their place in the

for the 2013–14 season. In 2012–2013, the team was managed by the former Armenian player Albert Sarkisyan.

Relocation to Yerevan in 2013

In February 2013, the club purchased the

Nairi Stadium Alashkert Stadium () is a football stadium in Yerevan, Armenia. It was known as Nairi Stadium until 2013, when it was renamed Alashkert by the new owners. The stadium is located in Shengavit District, adjacent to Lake Yerevan, on the left bank ...

in Yerevan, to become the official venue of their home games. As a result, the club was officially relocated from Martuni to Yerevan starting from the 2013–14 season.

2013/14 Season-Present

In the 2013/14 season, Alashkert finished bottom of the table. However, they weren't relegated. In the 2014/15 Alashkert secured a 4th placed finish and a spot in the

Europa League The UEFA Europa League (UEL), usually known simply as the Europa League, is an annual association football, football club competition organised since 1971 by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for eligible European footb ...

Qualifiers. The 2015/16 season saw Alashkert have a superb performance in the Armenian Premier League, winning the title after a tough battle with runners-up

Shirak SC Football Club Shirak (), commonly known as Shirak, is an Armenia, Armenian professional sports club based in Gyumri. Shirak is known for its professional association football, football team which is one of the oldest football clubs in Armenia, ha ...

. The 2016/17 season saw Alashkert win the Armenian league title for the second consecutive season. The 2017/18 season marked a zenith for Alashkert as they clinched the title for the third consecutive time, establishing their dominance in Armenian football. This achievement underscored the club's strategic prowess and the skillful execution of their players on the field. Facing the challenge of sustaining peak performance, Alashkert secured a fourth-place finish in the 2018/19 season. However, the subsequent season, 2019/20, demonstrated the team's ability to recalibrate and maintain a competitive edge, resulting in a commendable third-place finish. The narrative took an exhilarating turn in the 2020/21 season when Alashkert, fueled by a renewed sense of purpose, once again secured the title, adding another chapter to their storied legacy. Alashkert also finished runners-up in the Armenian Cup, losing 3-1 in the final to Ararat. In 2021 Alashkert also won the

, defeating Ararat 1-0 to secure the trophy. In the 2021/22 season, Alashkert maintained a competitive stance, securing a third-place finish. The recent 2022/23 season saw the club finish in fourth place, inviting strategic reflection and a renewed commitment to future seasons. In December 2017, Alashkert entered into partnerships with Brazilian clubs

and

Fluminense Fluminense Football Club () is a Brazilian sports club based in the neighbourhood of Laranjeiras, in Rio de Janeiro, being the oldest football club in the state since its foundation in 1902. It competes in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, th ...

Domestic record

League records of Alashkert FC:

Records

* Seasons in top division – 10 (1992–present) * Lowest league position – 24 (1992) * Biggest 'undefeated' streak in the league – 11 matches (10/05/15 – 19/09/15) * Win record for season – 24 (2012–13) (First League) * Loss record for season – 22 (1991) (Soviet Lower Second League) * Most points in a season – 78 (2012–2013) (First League) * Most league goals in a season (club) – 80 (2012–2013) (First League) * All time League goals – 834 (since 1990) * Most goals in a season (player) – 17, Mihran Manasyan, 2013–14 * Biggest win – 6–0 vs FC Artsakh, 2018 * Biggest defeat – 9–2 vs

Gandzasar Kapan FC Gandzasar Kapan is an Armenian football club based in the town of Kapan, Syunik Province. The team plays in Armenian Premier League. The club headquarters are located on 18 Garegin Nzhdeh street, Kapan. The Gandzasar Kapan Training Centre is ...

, 2013 * Biggest home win – 6–0 vs FC Artsakh, 2018 * Biggest home defeat – 5–0 vs

FC Pyunik Football Club Pyunik (), commonly known as Pyunik (), is an Armenian professional sports club based in the Kentron neighbourhood of Yerevan. Pyunik is mostly known for its professional football team which, since its creation in 1992, has always ...

, 2013 * Biggest away win – 4–0 vs

, 2018 * Biggest away defeat – 9–2 vs

, 2013 * Highest attendance ever – ''59.047'' vs

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...

, 2018 * Highest attendance home game – ''9.000'' vs

CFR Cluj Fotbal Club CFR 1907 Cluj, commonly known as CFR Cluj ( or ) or simply CFR, is a Romanian professional association football, football club based in the city of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, that competes in the Liga I. Founded as ''Kolozsvári Vasut ...

, 2018 * Highest attendance away game – ''59.047'' vs

, 2018 * Highest attendance in league or cup – ''4.000'' vs Ararat, 2021 and vs

Lori Vanadzor Lori FC () was an Armenian football club based in Vanadzor, Lori Province. Originally founded in 1936, Lori has participated in the domestic football competition of Soviet Armenia. After retiring from professional football in 2002, the club was r ...

, 2019 * All-time most appearances – Artak Grigoryan, 198 * All-time top scorer – Mihran Manasyan, 76

Europe

Alashkert first qualified for the Europa League 2015–16 qualification round 1, after gaining 4th place in the Armenian Premier League 2014–2015. In the first round Alashkert drew the Scottish club

St Johnstone St Johnstone Football Club is a professional association football club in Perth, Scotland. The team competes in the , the second division of Scottish football. The club's name is derived from St John's Toun (or Saint Johnstoun)—an old name o ...

. Despite the fact that

were considered as the favourites, Alashkert were victorious after the two games and were able to create a sensation. In the second round, Alashkert had to meet the Kazakh side Kairat. In the first game Alashkert were defeated 3–0. In the second game, Alashkert were able to achieve victory as a result of a last-minute winner scored by Heber Araujo, 2–1. However this was not enough to qualify for the third round. Alashkert were the first ever Armenian side to play in a European group stage after defeating Kairat 3–2 on 12 August 2021. They played

Rangers A ranger is typically someone in a law enforcement or military/paramilitary role specializing in patrolling a given territory, called "ranging" or "scouting". The term most often refers to: * Park ranger or forest ranger, a person charged with prot ...

in the play-off for the

, but lost 1–0 on aggregate. As a result, they dropped into the

Europa Conference League The UEFA Conference League (UECL), usually known simply as the Conference League, is an annual association football, football competition organised since 2021 by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for eligible European foot ...

group stage, where they were drawn in a group alongside

Maccabi Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv () is one of the largest sports clubs in Israel, and a part of the Maccabi association. Many sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv are in association with Maccabi and compete in a variety of sports, such as football, basketball, j ...

HJK Helsinki Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (), commonly known as HJK Helsinki (), or simply as HJK (), is a Finnish football club based in Helsinki. The club competes in Veikkausliiga, the top division of the Finnish football league system. Founded in 1907, the ...

and

LASK Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub, commonly known as LASK (), or Linzer ASK, is an Austrian professional football club based in Upper-Austrian state capital Linz. It is the oldest football club in that region, and plays in the Austrian Football Bundes ...

. After losing their first five matches, Alashkert managed to draw 1–1 against Maccabi Tel Aviv on matchday six, which was the first ever point earned by an Armenian side in any UEFA group stage.

European record

*Biggest win in UEFA competitions: 3–0 vs

FC Santa Coloma FC Santa Coloma is an Andorran professional football club based in Santa Coloma, parish of Andorra la Vella, that competes in the Primera Divisió. It is the most successful team in both Primera Divisió and Copa Constitució, having won b ...

(5 July 2016) and vs Makedonija GP (18 July 2019) *Biggest defeat in UEFA competitions: 0–5 vs

(16 August 2018) *Club appearances in UEFA competitions: 7 * Highest attendance – ''59.047'' vs

, 2018 *Player with most UEFA appearances: Artak Grigoryan – 29 appearances *Top scorer in UEFA competitions: Uros Nenadovic – 4 goals *Goalkeeper with most clean sheets in UEFA competitions: Ognjen Cancarevic – 5 matches

UEFA coefficient

Last update: 12 August 2021 The following list ranks the current position of Alashkert in UEFA club ranking:

List of opponents by nation

List of opponents by club

Stadiums

Between 1990 and 2000, the club was based in the Martuni City Stadium in the town of Martuni, near the shores of

Lake Sevan Lake Sevan () is the largest body of water in both Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater Alpine lake, high-altitude (alpine) lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in Gegharkunik Province, at an altitude of abov ...

. After the revival of the club in 2011, they were relocated to Yerevan, playing their home games in different stadiums of the capital city, mainly at the Nairi Stadium. However, Nairi Stadium – later renamed

– was purchased by the owners of FC Alashkert in February 2013. Due to the large-scale renovation works at the Alashkert Stadium, Alashkert used the

Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium (), also known as the Republican Stadium (), is an all-seater stadium, all-seater multi-use stadium located on 65 Vardanants Street, in the Armenian capital Yerevan. The stadium was built between 1933 and 1935. ...

and

Hrazdan Stadium Hrazdan Stadium () is a multi-use, all-seater stadium in Yerevan, Armenia, opened in 1970. Being the largest sports venue in Armenia, Hrazdan was mostly used for Association football, football matches. It was the home stadium of the Armenia natio ...

during the

2013–14 Armenian Premier League The 2013–14 Armenian Premier League season was the twenty-second since its establishment. Shirak F.C. were the winners. The league started on 3 August 2013. Teams * 1FC Alashkert moved to the Hrazdan Stadium starting from matchday 16. * 2U ...

season. Alashkert continue to use the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium to host European matches, due to Alashkert Stadium not meeting UEFA stadium category requirements. The club returned to their own Alashkert Stadium during the

2014–15 Armenian Premier League The 2014–15 Armenian Premier League season was the twenty-third since its establishment. FC Banants are the defending champions. Teams Personnel and sponsorship Managerial changes League table Results The league was played in four stag ...

season.

Honours

: ** Winner (4): 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18,

2020–21 The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen ...

: ** Winner (1): 2018–19 ** ''Runner Up'' (1): 2017–18 *

Armenian First League The Armenian First League () is currently the second level association football, football competition in Armenia after the Armenian Premier League. The competition exists mostly out of reserve teams of several Premier League clubs; however, other ...

: ** Winner (1):

2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

: ** Winner (3): 2016, 2018,

2021 Like the year 2020, 2021 was also heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the emergence of multiple Variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 variants. The major global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, which began at the end of 2020, continued ...

Current squad

Out on loan

Alashkert-2

The club's reserve squad plays as Alashkert-2 in the

. They also play their home games at the Alashkert Stadium.

Youth teams

Alashkert run a small football school for youth teams on training pitches adjacent to the Alashkert Stadium in Yerevan. They also run a football school in the town of Masis in

Ararat Province Ararat (, ) is a administrative divisions of Armenia, province (''marz (territorial entity), marz'') of Armenia. Its capital and largest city is the town of Artashat, Armenia, Artashat. The province is named after the biblical Mount Ararat. It i ...

Personnel

Technical staff

Management

Managerial history

Managers of FC Alashkert since the club revived in late 2011: * Albert Sarkisyan (1 January 2012 – 30 April 2013) * Armen Sanamyan (30 April 2013 – 23 October 2013) * Armen Gyulbudaghyants (2 November 2013 – 30 August 2014) *

Abraham Khashmanyan Abraham Khashmanyan (; born 11 November 1967) is an Armenian football manager and former player. Honours Alashkert * Armenian Premier League 2015–16, 2016–17 * Armenian Cup: 2018–19 * Armenian Supercup The Armenian Supercup is a mat ...

(31 August 2014 – 1 April 2018) *

Varuzhan Sukiasyan Varuzhan Sukiasyan (, ; born 5 August 1956 in Yerevan), is an Armenian football manager and former player. He is the brother of Yervand Sukiasyan. Between 1978 and 1987, Sukiasyan played at FC Kotayk of Abovyan. He managed the Armenia nationa ...

(1 April 2018 – 21 September 2018) *

Aram Voskanyan Aram Voskanyan (; born 26 August 1975) is an Armenian football manager and former player who manages Ararat Yerevan. Playing career A striker, Aram was a member of the Armenia national team, and has participated in 10 international matches s ...

(25 September 2018 – 14 April 2019) *

(15 April 2019 – 20 May 2021) * Aleksandr Grigoryan (20 May 2021 –20 September 2021 ) * Milan Milanović (26 September 2021 – 13 January 2022) *

(13 January 2022 – 30 June 2022)

References

External links

*
Club profile
on UEFA.com
Club profile
at Soccerway {{DEFAULTSORT:Alashkert Football clubs in Yerevan Association football clubs established in 1990 1990 establishments in Armenia