Football Club Shirak[1] (Armenian: Շիրակ Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ), commonly known as Shirak, is an Armenian professional sports club based in Gyumri. Shirak is known for its professional football team which is one of the oldest football clubs in Armenia, having been created in 1958. The club is the only team that participated in all seasons of the Armenian Premier League since its creation in 1992 until 2021. Shirak is one of the more successful clubs in Armenia, having won a total of 11 domestic titles including four Armenian Premier League titles,[2] two Armenian Cup,[3] and five Armenian Super Cup.

Quick Facts Full name, Nickname(s) ...
Shirak
Շիրակ
Full nameFootball Club Shirak
Nickname(s)Սև Հովազներ Sev Hovazner (Black Panthers)
Founded1958; 66 years ago (1958)
GroundGyumri City Stadium
Capacity4,500
PresidentArman Sahakyan
ManagerTigran Davtyan
LeagueArmenian Premier League
2023–248th of 10
Websitehttp://fcshirak.am
Current season
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Shirak has yet to qualify for an international tournament playoff round, yet frequently plays UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying matches.

Shirak's home stadium is the 4,500 seater Gyumri City Stadium, the oldest venue in Armenia. Shirak's youth academy has also produced successful players, including Artur Petrosyan and Harutyun Vardanyan.

History

Shirak was founded in Gyumri in 1958, when Armenia was still a part of the Soviet Union. The club was originally named Shirak Leninakan, the latter being the name for Gyumri during the Soviet Union.[4] From its creation to the fall of the Soviet Union, Shirak played all its matches in the Soviet third division First League.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union and the renaming of Leninakan, Shirak changed its name to Shirak Kumayri, and was placed in the Armenian Premier League with head coach Andranik Adamyan in charge.

1992 was the first Armenian Premier League season played in history, which ended with Shirak and Pyunik tied at the top with 37 points each. After failing to agree on a tie-breaking match, it was decided to award the title to both teams.[5] Thus, Shirak managed to win the league in the first domestic league in Armenian history.

Shirak once again changed its name in late 1992 after the name Kumayri was changed for Gyumri. Therefore 1993 was the first appearance as Shirak Gyumri in the Armenian Premier League. After finishing second in the 1993 league season, Shirak qualified to the Armenian Cup final for the first time, yet failed to claim the title after losing 3–1 to Ararat.

Shirak went on to win the 1994 and 1995 seasons, however was not given the 1995 title due to it being a transitional spring season.[6]

The next four seasons were not successful for the club, however Shirak managed to claim the league title again in 1999, with striker Arayik Adamyan scoring 16 goals.[7] The league title would end up being the last title Shirak would win until the 2011-12 Armenian Cup.

Shirak would eventually go on to win the 2012-13 Armenian Premier League and the 2016-17 Armenian Cup final.

Domestic history since 1992

More information Season, League ...
Season League National Cup Top goalscorer Manager
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
1992 Armenian Premier League 1st 22 17 3 2 58 14 37 Semi-final Armenia Grigor Grigoryan 19 Armenia Andranik Adamyan
1993 2nd 28 24 1 3 101 20 49 Runner-up Armenia Abraham Khashmanyan 14
1994 1st 28 24 4 0 83 19 52 Runner-up Armenia Artur Petrosyan 15
1995 1st 10 7 3 0 23 6 24 Semi-final Armenia Hovhannes Tahmazyan Armenia Samvel Nikolyan Armenia Grigor Grigoryan 4
1995-96 2nd 22 16 3 3 67 23 51 Semi-final Armenia Arayik Adamyan 15
1996-97 4th 22 15 2 5 57 11 47 Quarter-final Armenia Artur Petrosyan 11
1997 2nd 18 12 5 1 46 8 41 Not held Armenia Artur Petrosyan 18
1998 2nd 26 19 4 3 72 25 61 Quarter-final Armenia Arayik Adamyan 13
1999 1st 32 23 4 5 93 29 73 Runner-up Armenia Arayik Adamyan 16
2000 3rd 28 17 7 4 64 21 58 Quarter-final Armenia Artur Petrosyan 15
2001 4th 22 14 5 3 52 19 47 Semi-final Armenia Ararat Harutyunyan Armenia Tigran Davtyan 9
2002 2nd 22 16 3 3 49 15 51 Quarter-final Armenia Ararat Harutyunyan 10
2003 3rd 28 17 2 9 63 34 53 Semi-final Armenia Tigran Davtyan 15
2004 8th 28 4 9 15 27 49 21 Semi-final Armenia Yervand Hakobyan 7
2005 8th 18 3 3 12 19 36 12 Quarter-final Armenia Karen G. Khachatryan Armenia Andranik Barikyan 5 Armenia Zhora Barseghyan
2006 7th 28 4 7 17 21 64 19 Quarter-final Armenia Ara Mkrtchyan 5
2007 6th 28 9 7 12 27 37 34 Quarter-final Armenia Artyom Bernetsyan 7
2008 7th 28 5 4 19 15 40 19 Quarter-final Armenia Andranik Barikyan 4
2009 6th 28 5 8 15 24 55 23 Quarter-final Armenia Andranik Barikyan 8
2010 8th 28 2 4 22 22 68 10 Quarter-final Armenia Mkrtich Nalbandyan 9 Armenia Vardan Bichakhchyan
2011 7th 28 6 7 15 27 42 25 Runner-up Armenia Andranik Barikyan 10 Armenia Samvel Petrosyan
2011-12Only Cup competition was held Winner Armenia Vardan Bichakhchyan
2012–13 1st 42 26 10 6 70 38 88 Runner-up Senegal Yoro Lamine Ly 18
2013–14 2nd 28 13 8 7 48 31 47 Quarter-final Ivory Coast Serges Déblé 15
2014–15 3rd 28 14 7 7 51 32 49 Quarter-final Ivory Coast Jean-Jacques Bougouhi 21
2015–16 2nd 28 15 7 6 41 27 52 Quarter-final Ivory Coast Konan Odilon Kouakou 6
2016–17 3rd 30 16 5 9 31 24 53 Winner Armenia Viulen Ayvazyan 8
2017–18 4th 30 14 8 8 37 31 38 Semi-final Ivory Coast Moussa Bakayoko 7
2018–19 7th 32 7 15 10 26 30 36 First round Ivory Coast Moussa Bakayoko Armenia Aram Muradyan 4
2019–20 4th 28 13 7 8 40 30 46 Second round Ivory Coast Mory Kone 23
2020–21 9th 24 2 7 15 19 53 13 First round Armenia Artyom Mikaelyan, Serbia Igor Stanojević, Armenia Arman Aslanyan 2 Armenia Tigran Davtyan
2021–22 Armenian First League 2nd 28 22 3 3 83 19 69 First round Armenia Artem Gevorgyan 12
2022–23 Armenian Premier League 7th 36 10 6 20 25 55 36 Runner-up Ivory Coast Moussa Bakayoko 7
2023–24 8th 36 8 9 19 28 46 33 Semi-final Ivory Coast Donald Kodia 6
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European

As of match played 27 August 2020
More information Competition, Pld ...
Competition Pld W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Champions League 6 1 3 2 6 5 +1
UEFA Cup & UEFA Europa League 29 4 5 20 15 53 –38
UEFA Intertoto Cup 4 1 1 2 7 10 –3
Total 39 6 9 24 28 68 –40
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More information Season, Competition ...
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1995–96 UEFA Cup PR Poland Zagłębie Lubin 0–1 0–0 0–1
1996–97 UEFA Cup PR Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta 2–2 0–4 2–6
1998–99 UEFA Cup 1Q Sweden Malmö 0–2 0–5 0–7
1999–00 UEFA Cup 1Q Finland HJK Helsinki 1–0 0–2 1–2
2000–01 UEFA Champions League 1Q Belarus BATE Borisov 1–1 1–2 2–3
2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Hungary Tatabánya 1–3 3–2 4–5
2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Portugal Santa Clara 3–3 0–2 3–5
2003–04 UEFA Cup QR Denmark Nordsjælland Farum 0–2 0–4 0–6
2004–05 UEFA Cup 1Q Moldova Tiraspol 1–2 0–2 1–4
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1Q Montenegro Rudar Pljevlja 1–1 1–0 2–1
2Q Israel Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 0–1 0–2 0–3
2013–14 UEFA Champions League 1Q San Marino Tre Penne 3–0 0–1 3–1
2Q Serbia Partizan Belgrade 1–1 0–0 1–1
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1Q Kazakhstan Shakhter Karagandy 1–2 0–4 1–6
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q Bosnia and Herzegovina HŠK Zrinjski Mostar 2–0 1–2 3–2
2Q Sweden AIK Fotboll 0–2 0–2 0–4
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q Georgia (country) Dila Gori 1–0 (aet) 0–1 1–1 (4–1 p)
2Q Slovakia Spartak Trnava 1–1 0–2 1–3
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q Slovenia Gorica 0–2 2–2 2–4
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q Romania FCSB 0–3
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Kit and badge

For most of the club's history, the team's colours were orange and black, inspired on the dominant colours present in Gyumri's architecture, specifically the Holy Saviour's Church, located in the city.

As of 2019, Shirak has reached an agreement with Swiss sportswear company Fourteen to provide all match and training apparel.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

More information Period, Kit Manufacturer ...
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsors
2005-11KappaGyumri Beer
2012-14KappaSovrano, Fine
2014Adidas
2014-15VTB Bank
2015–16Anelik Bank
2016-17Menu.am
2017-18TotoGaming
2018-19
2019-Fourteen
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Badge

The club's current badge design was inspired by Gyumri's seal, with the main feature being the lion and cross which were present on the flag of the Bagratuni dynasty, which ruled Bagratid Armenia during the Middle Ages.

Stadium

Thumb
Gyumri City Stadium

Shirak's home stadium has always been the Gyumri City Stadium, built in 1924 and currently the oldest football stadium in the country. Following renovation works in 1999, the stadium became an all-seater stadium with a capacity for 2,844. The stadium pitch and facilities were upgraded in 2012 to meet all UEFA stadium regulations, allowing Shirak to play its UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying matches at home.

The stadium capacity was once again increased, this time to the current 4,500 capacity following a second round of renovations in 2019. These renovations included new seating in the south end of the stadium.[8]

List of stadiums used by the club

Supporters

Shirak's fans are known as the Black Panthers, in honor of the panther that appears on the flag of the Bagratid dynasty. Shirak's supporters are also considered to be one of the best in Armenian football, with high match attendance and active supporters during matches. Supporters have rioted against club management when the club failed to reach desired results in the past.

Rivalries

Shirak's main rival is considered to be Gandzasar. This rivalry grew as both teams were the only teams in the league that weren't from Yerevan, and thus competed to be the best team from the provinces.[9]

Players

Current squad

As of 11 August 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Technical staff

More information Position, Name ...
Position Name
Head coach Armenia Vardan Bichakhchyan
First Assistant Coach Armenia Felix Khojoyan
Assistant coach Armenia Hovhannes Tahmazyan
Goalkeepers Coach Armenia Artur Hovhannisyan
Team Manager Armenia Ararat Harutyunyan
Masseur Armenia Armen Sukiasyan
Translator Armenia Harutyun Harutyunyan
Shirak-2 Coach Armenia Tigran Davtyan
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Institutional

Executive board

Arman Sahakyan has been the President of Shirak since he purchased the club in 2010.[10]

Staff

  • Technical director: Georgi Matevosyan
  • Sporting director: Andranik Adamyan
  • Press Secretary: Arman Maloyan
  • Administrator: Suren Simonyan

Honours

Domestic

League

Cup

Other sports sections

Football reserves and academy

Shirak's youth academy has produced several notable players throughout its history. Artur Petrosyan is the most prominent academy product, having a successful career in Armenia and European football.

Shirak's reserves compete in the Armenian First League, the second division in Armenian football. The reserves are currently coached by Tigran Davtyan and also play their matches at the Gyumri City Stadium.

Futsal

On 8 September 2017, prior to the beginning of the 2017-18 Armenian Futsal Premier League season, Shirak Sports Club took over the Gyumri Futsal club, who were a founding member of the domestic futsal championship in Armenia which began in 1998. As a result, the futsal team was re-branded as Shirak SC Futsal.[11]

Basketball

On 19 September 2017, Shirak announced the creation of a basketball team that would compete in the newly created Armenia Basketball League A.[12]

See also

References

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