FC Ahal

Ahal Änew Football Club (), or simply Ahal FK, is a Turkmen professional football club based in the Änew, Ahal Province. Founded in 1989, the club played its first-ever top flight season in 1992. The club plays its home matches at the 20,000 seater Ashgabat Stadium.

Ahal won the 2022 Ýokary Liga, becoming one of eight clubs to have won the Ýokary Liga since its inception in 1992.

History

During 1989–91, the club participated in the Soviet Second League.

FC Ahal played in the top division of Turkmenistan in 1992, winning bronze medal, but the following year the team was disbanded. The returning season was 1998–99.

In 2013, the team won Cup title, led by Ali Gurbani. In 2013 Turkmenistan Cup final team beat Altyn Asyr and won the trophy for the second time.

In 2014 season the team began by winning the 2014 Super Cup of Turkmenistan, beating HTTU (4–2). In October 2014 the new coach was appointed, Guwançmuhammet Öwekow, which resulted in a victory in the 2014 Turkmenistan Cup, having beaten Balkan (2–1).

In the 2015 season, FC Ahal debuted in AFC Cup, becoming the new dominant force of Turkmenistan football. In the second qualifying round 2015 AFC Cup, FC Ahal defeated the Omani club Fanja SC, earning the right to participate in the group tournament. In September 2015, Boris Grigorýanc was appointed as head coach, replacing Guwançmuhammet Öwekow, who left the position voluntarily.

Between 2016 and 2019, Rovshen Meredov served as head coach. From 2019 to 2020, the role was held by Said Seýidow. In 2021, Hojaahmet Arazow took over.

In 2021, Mergen Orazov was appointed manager of Ahal. In the 2021 Ýokary Liga, FC Ahal won silver medals in the championship for the 7th time and received the right to take part in the 2022 AFC Champions League. Only Ahal were granted an AFC Champions League license, as the Ýokary Liga champions FC Altyn Asyr were only eligible for the 2022 AFC Cup.

In 2022, under the leadership of head coach Mergen Orazov, FC Ahal became Turkmenistan champions for the first time in its history. Ahal also won the Turkmenistan Cup and the Football Federation of Turkmenistan Cup. Mergen Orazov was named the best coach of Turkmenistan in 2022.

FC Ahal has unveiled a new logo ahead of the 2024 Ýokary Liga season. The updated design features a minimal color scheme, with the emblem showcasing the Txrkmennebitönumleri sponsor's symbol and the club's founding year, 1989. Under Welsähet Öwezow, FC Ahal finished second in the 2024 season

Domestic

Continental history

Honours

* Turkmenistan Higher League
**Champions (1): 2022
**Runners-up (7): 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
*Turkmenistan Cup
**Champions (4): 2013, 2014, 2017, 2022
**Runners-up (2): 2019, 2021, 2023
*Turkmenistan Super Cup
**Champions (1): 2014
**Runners-up (3): 2015, 2018, 2020

Current squad

Personnel

Team management

Corporate hierarchy

Managers

* Amangylyç Koçumow (2000)
* Armen Sogomonyan (2005)
* Ali Gurbani (2005)
* Durdy Redzhepov (2008)
* Armen Sogomonyan (2011)
* Baýram Durdyýew (2012)
* Ali Gurbani (2013–14)
* Guwançmuhammet Öwekow (2014–20??)
* Röwşen Meredow (September 2016 – September 2019)
* Amangylyç Koçumow (September 2019 – October 2019)
* Baýramnyýaz Berdiýew (November 2019 – January 2020)
* Hojaahmet Arazow (January 2020 – August 2020)
* Said Seýidow (August 2020 – December 2020)
* Mergen Orazov (January 2021 – December 2022)
* Serdar Geldiýew (January 2023 – April 2024)
* Döwletmyrat Annaýew (April 2024 – June 2024)
* Welsähet Öwezow (June 2024 – )

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

The team is owned by the Main Department Türkmennebitönumleri (Turkmen Petroleum Products) of the State Concern Türkmennebit.
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Players on international cups

References

External links

Ahal – FIFA
(archived 13 December 2014)
Ahal – GSA

{{Ýokary Liga

Football clubs in Turkmenistan
1989 establishments in the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Association football clubs established in 1989