FK Arkadag (Turkmen: Arkadag Futbol Kluby, Arkadag FK) is a professional football club based in Arkadag, Turkmenistan. Founded in 2023 by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the club plays in the Ýokary Liga. It became the national champion in their first season.
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| Full name | Arkadag Futbol Kluby | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1 April 2023 | |||
| Ground | Arkadag Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 10,000[1] | |||
| Owner | Arkadag City Administration | |||
| Manager | Wladimir Baýramow | |||
| League | Ýokary Liga | |||
| 2024 | Ýokary Liga, 1st of 9 (champions)[2] | |||
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History
The beginning
Arkadag was formed in the run-up to the 2023 domestic season.[3] Many of the country's best players joined the club in a transfer window that was specially expanded to allow for this.[3] Competing in the Turkmenistan top flight right from its foundation,[4][5][6][7] they have undergone criticism by fans who have accused them of being favored by the authorities in the 2023 Ýokary Liga.[8][3]
In November, Wladimir Baýramow became the new manager of FK Arkadag, receiving a one-year contract.[9] Also in this month the team logo with the image of an Akhal-Teke horse was presented.[10]
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On 3 December, Arkadag clinched their first championship title in the Turkmenistan Higher League, by defeating Altyn Asyr 4–0, and won all 24 league matches.[11] The team scored a total of 72 points with a goal difference of 83–17. The club's and league top scorer with 27 goals was Didar Durdyev.[12][13] They also secured place in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two qualifiers.[14][15][16][17] On 24 December 2023, Wladimir Baýramow guided Arkadag to their second trophy, defeating Ahal FK 3–0 in Turkmenistan Cup final at the Arkadag Stadium.[18][19] For the team's successful performance in the 2023 season, the team was gifted a MAN bus.[20][21][22]
In June 2023, Arkadag was licensed to participate the AFC Challenge League.[23] On 7 October 2024, defending champions Arkadag successfully retained their League title after a 5-1 victory over Nebitçi.[24]
In the AFC Challenge League, Arkadag got into the group with Kuwait giants Al-Arabi SC and reigning Maldives and Kyrgyz champions Maziya and FC Abdysh-Ata Kant, respectively. [25] Their first match was a 2–1 win against Maziya SRC in Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Kuwait City. [26] On 29 October 2024, FK Arkadag recorded an upset over FC Abdysh-Ata Kant in the AFC Challenge League by winning 2–0. [27][28]
On 1 November 2024, the team suffered its first defeat since its establishment against Al-Arabi of Kuwait on the third day of the group stage of the Challenge League, to end a streak of 61 consecutive wins in all official competitions (50 in the Ýokary Liga, 9 in the Turkmenistan Cup, and 2 in the AFC Challenge Cup), marking the longest winning streak in football history. Additionally, the club was only one match away from equaling the world record unbeaten streak of 62 matches, held by Celtic between 1915 and 1917.
Records
Domestic
| Season | League | Turkmenistan Cup | Top goalscorer | Manager | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Name | League | |||
| 2023 | 1st | 1st | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 17 | 72 | Winners |  Didar Durdyýew |
27 [29][30] | Guwançmuhammet Öwekow Begençmuhammet Kulyýew |
| 2024 | 1st | 1st | Wladimir Baýramow | ||||||||||
Continental
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Challenge League | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Season | Competition | Round | Nat | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | AFC Challenge League | Group B |  |
Maziya | 2–1 | ||
 |
Abdysh-Ata Kant | 2–0 | |||||
 |
Al-Arabi | 2–3 | |||||
| Quarter-final |  |
East Bengal | |||||
Honours
- Ýokary Liga
- Turkmenistan Cup
- Champions (1): 2023
Managerial history
| Name | Nationality | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Guwançmuhammet Öwekow[32] | |
2023 |
| Begençmuhammet Kulyýew[33] | |
2023 |
| Wladimir Baýramow[34] | |
2023– |
Stadiums
FC Arkadag's main home ground is the 10,000-capacity Arkadag Stadium.[35][36][37][38]
Nusaý Stadium used to be the home ground of the team at some Ýokary Liga matches.[39]
Colours, kit and crest
Kit
FC Arkadag 's traditional home kit predominantly consists of green and white colours.[40] The second set of kit is completely green with white elements.[41]
Crest
The club crest has been a rampant Akhal-Teke horse against the backdrop of the Kopetdag mountains.[10][42] The logo uses white and blue colors.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Top scorers
| Season | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023[45] | Didar Durdyýew 27 | Begmyrat Baýow 9 | Şanazar Tirkişow 7 |
Notable players
Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for FK Arkadag.
- Turkmenistan
References
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