Football Club Ararat Yerevan (Armenian: Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ Արարատ Երևան), commonly known as Ararat Yerevan, is an Armenian professional football club based in Yerevan that plays in the Armenian Premier League.[2]

Quick Facts Full name, Nickname(s) ...
Ararat Yerevan
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Full nameFootball Club Ararat
Nickname(s)White Eagles
Founded10 May 1935; 89 years ago (1935-05-10)
GroundVazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
Capacity14,403
OwnerVartan Sirmakes & Hrach Kaprielian
PresidentHrach Kaprielian[1]
ManagerTigran Yesayan
LeagueArmenian Premier League
2023–24Armenian Premier League, 6th
Websitehttp://www.fcararat.am/
Current season
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Since 1999 the club has been owned by the Swiss-Armenian businessman Vartan Sirmakes. The badge shows a white eagle standing on a football and is a reference to the club nickname. The badge also displays the name of Ararat in both Latin (Ararat) and Armenian (ԱՐԱՐԱՏ) text.

History

In 1935, a football team was established in Yerevan by Spartak sports society. The first time the team participated in the competitions of the national level. The first trophy of the club was the Armenian SSR Cup in 1940. In the next four years football was not played because of World War II.

In 1944, games of USSR Cup were resumed, and Spartak participated. A match was set up with their main rivals, fellow FC Dinamo Tbilisi. However, the match was not played through the fault of Yerevan.[3][4] In 1947, the team becomes silver medalist in the second league of the Transcaucasian region. The team finished just one point behind the ODL from Tbilisi. In this championship, Spartak, in a home match against Tbilisi Wings of the Soviets, showed the best result at the time, beating them by the score 7:1.[5][6] In Season 1948 Spartak was to start in the first group (the Premier League at the time), but after 30 games along with 15 other clubs had been withdrawn. All 16 clubs have continued to participate in the league below. Spartak have spent the next season in the second group, improved their performance and won the competition in the South Zone. The team won 13 matches out of 18. However, the first place in the zonal group did not guarantee promotion. According to the regulations of the USSR Championship, the winners of zones in the second league should have played each other in the final stage. At this stage, 6 teams participated. Games between the teams went into a circle. After 5 games Spartak has settled on the third place, which ensured the club a place in the first group.[7][8]

Hrazdan Stadium, the home ground of Ararat Yerevan between 1971 and 2015

In 1949 at Spartak participated for the first time in the Soviet Top League. The team performed poorly, finishing 12th. In the first two rounds the team lost, but in the 3rd round victory was recorded in a home game against the Air Force (Moscow).[9] To beat the team was able representatives of the second half of the table, and twice on the road. There were three major defeats: the double-0–6 from Moscow Lokomotiv and CDKA, and once 1–6 – from Tbilisi "Dynamo". However, despite the poor performance, the club remained in the top league for next season, as the latter two dropped out of the club, ranked 17th and 18th place in the standings.[10][11] Cup battles ended at the first stage, against the Dynamo "from Stalinabad.[12] In 1950 season, Spartak began to act more liberated. The first lesion was detected only in the fourth round of the Leningrad "Zenit". The team scored 31 points with team-mates from Kiev, but on goal difference in the Class "B" sunk Spartak. In the Soviet Cup team started with a 1/128 final. Having weak rivals in 1/16-oy stumbled on rivals in the face Dynamo Kiev. In the hard game, which was held in Kiev, Spartak celebrated victory 3–2. In 1/8 final meeting with "Dynamo," Moscow and lost with a score of 0–7.[13]

Between 1960–63 and later in 1966–91, the team participated in the Soviet Top League. In 1973, Ararat won the Top League as well as the Soviet Cup. In 1971 and 1976 (spring) seasons, they were runner-up at the top league, and in 1975 they won the Soviet Cup for the 2nd time.

In total the team participated in 33 Soviet Top League seasons, playing 1,026 matches, of which they won 352, drew 280, lost 394, scored 1,150 goals and conceded 1,306. By 1975 the team participated in the lottery three European Cups. In the last USSR Championship in 1991, the team was finished in seventh place.

Soviet championships

FC Ararat logo during the Soviet era

By 1945–47, Ararat swept the Armenian SSR League and by 1949 had won promotion into the Soviet Top League. The team played in the Top League in 1949–50, 1960–63, and 1965–91. In 1971, Ararat finished second in the Top League. In 1973, they won the Top League and the Soviet Cup (in a memorable final game against Dynamo Kyiv). They won the cup again in 1975. In 1971 and 1976 Spring (there were two Soviet championships in 1976 — Spring and Autumn) they were the league runners-up. In 1974–75 Ararat competed in the European Cup, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to defending and eventual champions Bayern Munich 2–1 on aggregate (0–2 in Munich and 1–0 in Yerevan). Since their debut in the European tournaments in 1972, they have won 16 of their 36 matches with 4 draws.

More information Ararat in 1973 final, Ararat in 1975 final ...
Ararat in 1973 final Ararat in 1975 final
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Modern history

Since the 1991 dissolution of Soviet Union, Ararat has attained the Armenian Championship only once in 1993 and won four silver prizes (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2008) and one bronze prize (1994). In addition, the club has won the Armenian Cup five times (1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2008) and were finalists in 2001 and 2007. They also were very close to taking the Armenian title in 2007, however the unexpected resignation of head coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan changed the atmosphere on the team and the club ended up in fourth place. In March 2008, former coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan returned to take charge of the team again. After failing to take the title from Pyunik in 2008, Varuzhan Sukiasyan left the club.

The club headquarters are located on Agatangeghos Street 2, Yerevan.[14] The club's Dzoraghbyur Training Centre is located in the Dzoraghbyur village of Kotayk Province, at the eastern outskirts of Yerevan.

In August 2016, Arkady Andreasyan became the head coach.[15] However, in August 2017, Albert Safaryan was appointed as a head coach, while Arkady Andreasyan became the club's sports director. As of 2018–2019 season, Abraham Khashmanyan is the head coach of the team.

On 16 July 2018, Ararat Yerevan released a statement against the naming of Ararat-Armenia.[16]

On 29 July 2019, Sergei Bulatov resigned citing family circumstances, with Sergei Boyko being appointed as interim-manager the same day.[17] On 16 September 2019, Boyko resigned with Gagik Simonyan being placed in interim charge.[18] On 6 January 2020, Igor Kolyvanov was announced as the new manager of Ararat Yerevan.[19] On 1 June 2022, Edgar Torosyan left his role as Head Coach after his contract expired, with Aram Voskanyan being announced as his replacement the same day.[20][21]

Domestic history

More information Season, League ...
Season League National Cup Top goalscorer Manager
Division Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
1992 1st 4th 22 15 4 3 78 15 34 Second round Vahe Yaghmuryan 38 A.Sarkisyan
1993 1st 1st 28 23 5 0 92 9 51 Winner Vahe Yaghmuryan 20 A.Sarkisyan
1994 1st 3rd 28 21 5 2 109 21 47 Winner Vahe Yaghmuryan 18 A.Sarkisyan
1995 1st 1st1 10 6 2 2 34 11 20 Winner Armen Shahgeldyan,
Levon Stepanyan
7 S.Darbinyan
1995–96 1st 4th 22 12 3 7 58 28 39 Semi-final S.Darbinyan / A.Andreasyan
1996–97 1st 2nd 22 17 1 4 54 18 52 Winner A.Andreasyan
1997 1st 6th 18 7 6 5 32 21 27 A.Andreasyan
1998 1st 4th 26 10 5 11 40 40 35 Quarter-final A.Andreasyan
1999 1st 2nd 32 22 6 4 63 21 72 Quarter-final A.Andreasyan
2000 1st 2nd 28 18 5 5 50 23 59 Semi-final Tigran Yesayan 17 A.Andreasyan
2001 1st 5th 22 13 3 6 42 22 42 Runner-Up A.Andreasyan
2002 1st 5th 22 9 6 7 39 22 33 Quarter-final A.Andreasyan
20032 1st - A.Andreasyan
2004 2nd 7th 30 16 1 13 83 50 49 Quarter-final S.Arzumanyan
2005 2nd 2nd 24 18 2 4 72 18 56 Quarter-final A.Khashmanyan
2006 1st 4th 28 15 4 9 48 35 49 Quarter-final A.Khashmanyan / V.Sukiasyan
2007 1st 4th 28 15 4 9 49 42 49 Runner-Up Marcos Pizzelli 22 V.Sukiasyan / D.Mijić
2008 1st 2nd 28 18 5 5 48 23 59 Winner Marcos Pizzelli 17 D.Mijić / V.Sukiasyan
2009 1st 8th 28 2 8 18 20 54 14 Quarter-final A.Kirakosyan / A.Andreasyan
2010 2nd 1st 24 17 4 3 50 19 55 T.Yesayan
2011 1st 8th 28 2 4 22 14 57 10 Quarter-final Koren Veranyan,
Ara Hakobyan
3 A.Andreasyan
2011-12Only Cup competition was held Quarter-final
2012–13 1st 7th 42 9 6 27 27 70 33 Quarter-final Tigran Voskanyan 5 A.Safaryan / A.Khashmanyan
2013–14 1st 4th 28 12 8 8 30 23 44 Quarter-final Aleksandar Rakić 10 A.Khashmanyan
2014–15 1st 8th 28 3 4 21 28 69 13 Quarter-final Aleksandar Rakić 10 D.Mijić / S.Darbinyan / S.Chakhalyan / A.Minasyan & V.Sukiasyan
2015–16 1st 5th 28 9 10 9 28 31 37 Quarter-final Gevorg Nranyan,
Bryan de la Fuente
5 V.Sukiasyan
2016–17 1st 6th 30 3 3 24 17 53 12 Quarter-final Gegham Tumbaryan 3 A.Andreasyan
2017–18 1st 6th 30 5 6 19 33 55 21 Quarter-final Andranik Kocharyan 9 A.Safaryan
2018–19 1st 9th 32 5 7 20 24 60 22 Quarter-final Artem Simonyan 6 A.Stepanyan / A.Khashmanyan / T.Yesayan
2019–20 1st 6th 28 10 6 12 34 36 36 Second round Denys Dedechko 6 S.Boyko / G.Simonyan
2020–21 1st 4th 28 11 7 6 34 18 40 Winner Mory Kone
Uros Nenadovic
7 V.Bichakhchyan
2021–22 1st 4th 32 13 7 12 47 36 46 Semifinal Serges Déblé 13 V.Bichakhchyan
E.Torosyan
2022–23 1st 6th 36 10 8 18 29 42 38 First Round Razmik Hakobyan 7 E.Torosyan
2023–24 1st 6th 36 13 6 17 39 50 45 Second Round Kassim Hadji 7 G.Simonyan
R.Nazaryan
T.Yesayan
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    • Due to the 1995 season being a transitional season, there was no official winner of championship.
    • Ararat Yerevan were expelled before start of the season..

    Ararat in Europe

    [22]

    As of match played 14 July 2022
    More information Competition, GP ...
    Competition GP W D L GF GA
    UEFA Champions League6501145
    UEFA Cup145271521
    UEFA Europa Conference League61321012
    UEFA Cup Winners' Cup123271818
    UEFA Intertoto Cup630369
    Total44177206665
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    More information Season, Competition ...
    Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
    1972–73 UEFA Cup 1/32 Cyprus EPA Larnaca 1–0 1–0 2–0
    1/16 Switzerland Grasshopper Zürich 4–2 3–1 7–3
    1/8 Germany Kaiserslautern 2–0 0–2 2–2 (4–5 p)
    1974–75 UEFA European Cup 1/16 Norway Viking Stavanger 4–2 2–0 6–2
    1/8 Republic of Ireland Cork Celtic 5–0 2–1 7–1
    QF Germany Bayern Munich 1–0 0–2 1–2
    1975–76 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1/16 Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta 9–0 1–1 10–1
    1/8 England West Ham United 1–1 1–3 2–4
    1994–95 UEFA Cup 1/16 Bulgaria CSKA Sofia 0–0 0–3 0–3
    1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1/32 Poland GKS Katowice 2–0 0–2 2–2 (5–4 p)
    1/16 Russia Dynamo Moscow 0–1 1–3 1–4
    1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1/32 Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi 0–2 3–0[a] 3–2
    1/16 Denmark Copenhagen 0–2 0–3 0–5
    1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1/16 Romania Bacău 1–0 1–0 2–0
    1/8 Belgium Sint-Truiden 0–2 1–3 1–5
    2000–01 UEFA Cup Q Slovakia Košice 2–3 1–1 3–4
    2001–02 UEFA Cup Q Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv 0–2 0–3 0–5
    2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Belarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk 2–0 1–4 3–4
    2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q Switzerland Bellinzona 0–1 1–3 1–4
    2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Hungary Fehérvár 2–0 1–1 3–1
    2Q Poland Śląsk Wrocław 2–4 3–3 5–7
    2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q North Macedonia Shkëndija 2–2 0–2 2–4
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    • Biggest Win in UEFA Competition: 17 September 1975, Ararat 9–0 Anorthosis, in Yerevan
    • Biggest Defeat in UEFA Competition: 23 June 2007, Shakhtyor 4–1 Ararat, in Soligorsk
    • Club Appearances in UEFA Competition: 12
    • Player with Most UEFA Appearances: Soviet Union Aleksei Abramian and Soviet Union Norik Mesropian – 16 appearances
    • Top Scorer in UEFA Club Competitions: Soviet Union Eduard Markarov – 12 goals

    Youth academy

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    Dzoraghbyur Training Centre

    Ararat Yerevan run their own youth training academy in the village of Dzoraghbyur at the eastern outskirts of the capital Yerevan. Occupying an area of 48,000 m2, the centre was opened by the club in 2007. It is home to natural-grass as well as artificial-turf training pitches, in addition to an indoor training centre.

    Honours

    1973
    1993
    1965
    1973, 1975
    1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2008, 2020–21
    2009
    1978 (shared)[23]
    Quarter-finalist: 1974–75
    1/8 finalist: 1975–76
    1/8 finalist: 1972–73

    Current squad

    As of 9 September 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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    Ararat Yerevan-2

    Quick Facts Nickname(s), Founded ...
    Ararat Yerevan-2
    Thumb
    Nickname(s)White Eagles
    Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
    GroundDzoraghbyur Training Centre, Dzoraghbyur
    OwnerVartan Sirmakes & Hrach Kaprielian
    PresidentHrach Kaprielian
    LeagueArmenian First League
    2016–173rd
    Websitehttp://www.fcararat.am/
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    Ararat Yerevan's reserve squad play as Ararat Yerevan-2 in the Armenian First League. They currently play their home games at the training field with artificial turf of the Dzoraghbyur Training Centre in Dzoraghbyur village near Yerevan.[24]

    Also FC Ararat-2 Yerevan played in 1990 Soviet Second League B and 1991 Soviet Second League.

    Personnel

    Technical staff

    More information Position, Name ...
    Position Name
    Head coach Armenia Aram Voskanyan
    Assistant coach Vacant
    Assistant coach Vacant
    Goalkeepers Coach Armenia Edik Yeritsyan
    Masseur Armenia Karen Mkrtchyan
    Ararat Yerevan-2 Coach Armenia
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    Management

    More information Position, Name ...
    Position Name
    Owners Armenia France Vartan Sirmakes, Armenia Switzerland Hrach Kaprielian
    President Armenia Switzerland Hrach Kaprielian
    Executive Officer Armenia Artyom Hakobyan
    Sporting director Armenia Tigran Gharabaghtsyan
    Press Secretary Armenia Grigor Grigoryan
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    Managerial history

    More information Name, Nat ...
    Name Nat From To
    Vramshapuh Merangulyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic 1935 1938
    Suren Atanesyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1939 Oct 1939
    Yuri Yesenin Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1940 Oct 1944
    Viktor Andreev Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1945 Oct 1945
    Mikhail Sushkov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1946 Oct 1946
    Viktor Grechishnikov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1947 Oct 1947
    Hayk Andreasyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1948 9 June 1949
    Boris Apukhtin Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic June 1949 July 1949
    Viktor Filipov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic July 1949 Oct 1949
    Gleb Ryabikov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1950 7 June 1951
    Ilya Evranov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic 8 June 1951 Dec 1951
    Hayk Andreasyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1952 Oct 1954
    Abraham Dangulov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1955 Oct 1956
    Hayk Andreasyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1957 Oct 1957
    Boris Smyslov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1958 Oct 1960
    Hayk Andreasyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1961 July 1961
    Anatoliy Akimov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Aug 1961 July 1962
    Arutyun Kegeyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic Aug 1962 Dec 1962
    Hayk Andreasyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic Jan 1963 28 September 1963
    Alexander Abramov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic 2 October 1963 Dec 1963
    Georgiy Zharkov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1964 Oct 1964
    Artyom Falyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic 1 March 1965 2 January 1968
    Eduard Grigoryan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1968 Oct 1968
    Oleksandr Ponomarov Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1969 Oct 1970
    Nikolay Glebov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1971 Oct 1972
    Nikita Simonyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic 1 January 1973 31 December 1974
    Victor Maslov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1975 Oct 1975
    Eduard Markarov Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1976 Oct 1977
    Nikolay Gulyayev Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1978 July 1978
    Leonid Zakharov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Aug 1978 Oct 1978
    Yozhef Betsa Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic March 1979 Oct 1981
    Arkady Andreasyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic March 1982 Oct 1983
    Nikita Simonyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic 1 January 1984 30 June 1985
    Leonid Zakharov Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic June 1985 June 1986
    Name Nat From To
    Arkady Andreasyan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic July 1986 June 1989
    Nikolay Kazaryan Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic July 1989 Oct 1989
    Armen Sarkisyan Armenia March 1990 Oct 1994
    Samvel Darbinyan Armenia March 1995 Oct 1995
    Arkady Andreasyan Armenia Jan 1996 Nov 2003
    Sevada Arzumanyan Armenia Nov 2003 Nov 2004
    Abraham Khashmanyan Armenia Nov 2004 June 2006
    Varuzhan Sukiasyan Armenia June 2006 July 2007
    Dušan Mijić Bosnia and Herzegovina July 2007 March 2008
    Varuzhan Sukiasyan Armenia March 2008 31 December 2008
    Ashot Kirakosyan Armenia Dec 2008 March 2009
    Arkady Andreasyan Armenia March 2009 Jan 2010
    Tigran Yesayan Armenia Jan 2010 Dec 2010
    Arkady Andreasyan Armenia Jan 2011 Feb 2012
    Albert Safaryan Armenia Feb 2012 July 2012
    Abraham Khashmanyan Armenia July 2012 26 April 2014
    Dušan Mijić Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 July 2014 26 September 2014
    Samvel Darbinyan Armenia 26 September 2014 1 December 2014
    Suren Chakhalyan Armenia 13 December 2014 14 April 2015
    Varuzhan Sukiasyan Armenia 28 April 2015 August 2016
    Arkady Andreasyan Armenia August 2016 5 August 2017
    Albert Safaryan Armenia 6 August 2017 30 July 2018
    Armen Stepanyan Russia 30 July 2018 30 September 2018
    Abraham Khashmanyan Armenia 1 October 2018 12 April 2019
    Tigran Yesayan Armenia 19 April 2019 31 May 2019
    Sergey Bulatov Russia 1 July 2019 29 July 2019
    Sergei Boyko (Interim) Russia 29 July 2019 16 September 2019
    Gagik Simonyan (Interim) Armenia 16 September 2019 14 October 2019
    Vadym Lazorenko Ukraine 14 October 2019 28 December 2019
    Igor Kolyvanov Russia 6 January 2020[19] 23 July 2020
    Vardan Bichakhchyan Armenia 23 July 2020[25] 11 January 2022[26]
    Edgar Torosyan Armenia 25 January 2022 1 June 2022[20]
    Aram Voskanyan Armenia 1 June 2022[21]
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    See also

    Notes

    1. Ararat Yerevan were awarded a 3–0 win in the qualifying round first leg after Dinamo Batumi were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player ― Sotogashvili. The match originally ended as a 4–2 win for Dinamo Batumi.
    2. Fourth oldest club competition, organized by the IFA (W.B.) and played between local clubs of West Bengal and other invited ones.

    References

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