Football Club Alashkert (Armenian: Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ Ալաշկերտ, romanized: Futbolayin Akumb Alashkert), commonly known as Alashkert, is an Armenian football club based in the capital Yerevan, founded in 1990 in Martuni and after folding in 2000 re-founded in 2011. They currently play in the Armenian Premier League. The home stadium of the team is the Alashkert Stadium in Yerevan. The club headquarters are located on Saryan street 25, Yerevan.[1] Although based in Yerevan they are in fact named after the historic Eastern Kurdish town of Alashkert, now eleskirt.
They are owned by Bagrat Navoyan, a businessman and founder of Bagratour LLC, and have a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian club Botafogo since August 2017.[2]
History
Club logo between 2012 and 2017
Football Club Alashkert was founded in 1990 in the town of Martuni of Gegharkunik Province. In 1992, the team played in the Premier League 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 Armenian Premier League for the 2013–14 season. In 2012–2013, the team was managed by the former Armenian player Albert Sarkisyan.[3]
Relocation to Yerevan in 2013
In February 2013, the club purchased the Nairi Stadium 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 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.
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 Armenian Supercup, 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 Botafogo and Fluminense.[4][5]
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. Despite the fact that St Johnstone 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 in the play-off for the Europa League, but lost 1–0 on aggregate. As a result, they dropped into the Europa Conference League group stage, where they were drawn in a group alongside Maccabi Tel Aviv, HJK Helsinki and LASK. 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.
The squad for the first match for an Armenian side in group stage history for the UEFA Conference League match against Maccabi Tel-Aviv on 14 September 2021
Between 1990 and 2000, the club was based in the Martuni City Stadium in the town of Martuni, near the shores of Lake Sevan.
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 Alashkert Stadium – was purchased by the owners of FC Alashkert in February 2013.
The club's reserve squad plays as Alashkert-2 in the Armenian First League. 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.
