Armenia national football team

The Armenia national football team (Armenian: Հայաստանի ֆուտբոլի ազգային հավաքական) represents Armenia in men's international football, and is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia, the governing body for football in Armenia.

Armenia
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Հավաքական (Havakakan)
AssociationFootball Federation of Armenia (FFA)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachOleksandr Petrakov
CaptainVarazdat Haroyan
Most capsSargis Hovsepyan (133)[1]
Top scorerHenrikh Mkhitaryan (32)
Home stadiumVazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium[2]
FIFA codeARM
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 95 Decrease 1 (4 April 2024)[3]
Highest30 (February 2014)
Lowest159 (July 1994)
First international
 Armenia 0–0 Moldova 
(Yerevan, Armenia; 14 October 1992)
Biggest win
 Armenia 7–1 Guatemala 
(Los Angeles, United States; 28 May 2016)
Biggest defeat
 Norway 9–0 Armenia 
(Oslo, Norway; 29 March 2022)

After gaining independence from the Soviet Union, the team played its first international match on 12 October 1992. The national team has participated in the qualification of every major tournament from the UEFA Euro 1996 onwards, though they are yet to qualify for the final stages of either a UEFA European Football Championship or a FIFA World Cup.[5] The team's main achievements have been third-place place finish in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying stage,[6] and being promoted to the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B.

The primary training ground is at the Technical Center-Academy of the Football Federation of Armenia in the northern Avan District of the capital Yerevan, and the team plays their home matches at the Republican Stadium.

History

Armenia became an independent state in 1991, the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic having previously played for the Soviet Union national football team. The Football Federation of Armenia was founded on 18 January 1992 and established relations with FIFA in 1992 and with UEFA in 1993.[7] The history of the Armenia national team began on 14 October 1992, when Armenia played its first match against Moldova. That meeting ended in a goalless draw. Since 1996, the team has been a member of qualifiers European and World Championships.[8] Armenia has competed in every UEFA European Championship qualifying and FIFA World Cup qualification since 1994.[9]

The first head coach of the Armenian national squad was Soviet Armenian football star Eduard Markarov. Armenian winner of the UEFA Jubilee Awards and fellow Soviet Armenian football great Khoren Oganesian also became a head coach. Many of the early coaches of the national team never stayed for longer than two years. Scottish coach Ian Porterfield became head coach in 2006 and began to lead the team to some of its first international successes. Under his leadership, the Armenian team played a series of great matches with victories over Kazakhstan 2–1, Poland 1–0 and a draw with Portugal (1–1), with Cristiano Ronaldo in the lineup. But then tragedy struck; the 62-year-old Porterfield died of cancer, leaving his work unfinished. An acting assistant coach, Vardan Minasyan, became acting head coach following Porterfield's death. Minasyan learned much from Porterfield and Samvel Darbinyan, another former head coach of Armenia, during this time about coaching and managing.[10] On 10 February 2009, after the draw for the qualifying round teams of the UEFA Euro 2012, by order of the President of the Football Federation of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan, Minasyan continued to lead the Armenian national squad, only now as the official head coach.[11][12][13]

In the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches, Minasyan led Armenia in Group B against Russia, Slovakia, Ireland, Macedonia and Andorra. Armenia, considered a heavy underdog, defeated the group favorite Slovakia with two crushing defeats 4–0 and 3–1, defeated Andorra in two matches as well 4–0 and 3–0, drew with Macedonia 2–2 and defeated them in the deciding match 4–1 and tied with the group winners Russia 0–0. The Armenian team scored the most goals out of Group B, with a total of 22. Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Armenia scored 6 goals, the most goals scored by a single player in Group B.[14][15] The national team almost made the final draw, but controversially lost in a decisive match against Ireland 1–2. Armenian goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky was given a red card by Spanish referee Eduardo Gonzalez in the 26th-minute for supposedly touching the ball outside the goal area. However, replays clearly showed the ball touched his chest and never touched his hands. Replays also showed that Ireland striker Simon Cox had actually touched the ball with his right hand.[16] Despite this, Gonzalez did not penalize Cox, who would later admit he touched the ball with his hand.[17] Had Cox's offence been punished, Armenia would have been awarded a free-kick.[6] Edgar Malakyan was swapped for replacement goalkeeper Arsen Petrosyan. Valeri Aleksanyan later accidentally scored an own goal past Petrosyan, which ended up deciding the match. Armenia and Ireland would each score another goal. The Football Federation of Armenia unsuccessfully filed a protest over the match.[16][18] Gonzalez had later resigned after the match.[19] Despite not getting to play in the UEFA Euro 2012, Minasyan brought the Armenia national team to a record #41 FIFA ranking, placed the team in a personal best third place in the group stage and went on to become the longest leading head coach of the Armenia football team. Minasyan stated he was proud of the entire team.[20][21] They were all welcomed in the airport back in Armenia as heroes.[22]

After the incredible UEFA Euro 2012 run, the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 qualifiers were not successful, with the Armenian side stood near bottom in the 2014 World Cup run and even finished last without a single win in Euro 2016 campaign. Armenia salvaged some few pride in 2018 World Cup qualification when the Armenians managed to create a shocking 3–2 home win over Montenegro, which contributed to Montenegro's failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[23] After these disappointments, Vardan Minasyan returned to lead Armenia in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D, but finished behind Macedonia, including a humiliating 0–1 home loss to Gibraltar.[24] Due to this humiliation, Minasyan was sacked and Armen Gyulbudaghyants was appointed new coach of Armenian side. The Armenians participated in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying along with giants Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, former European champions Greece, Finland and Liechtenstein. Armenia lost two opening fixtures to Bosnia 1–2 away[25] and Finland 0–2 at home,[26] and was supposed to get eliminated pretty early. However, Armenia began their resurgence following these losses, with a convincing 3–0 home cruise to Liechtenstein[27] before managed to create a shocking 3–2 away win over Greece, former UEFA Euro 2004 champions.[28] Armenia suffered a minor setback after losing at home to powerhouse Italy 1–3,[29] before created another shock in their qualification with a 4–2 convincing win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the same ground.[30] Armenia was pulled back to the ground when they faced Greece, Finland and Italy in their games, with Armenia defeated in both games and eventually finished fifth in their group, failed to qualify for UEFA Euro 2020.

Armenia participated in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League C and was seen as a minnow in a group containing strong North Macedonia and Georgia, along with fellow minnow Estonia. Armenia began with a 1–2 loss to North Macedonia away, before bounded back with an encouraging 2–0 home win to Estonia in September 2020.[31][32] In October, Armenia had to play their designated "home game" away from their country in Poland due to 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, and disappointed with only a 2–2 draw to Georgia and 1–1 draw to Estonia, thus leaving impression that Armenia would flounder from the chance to get promotion.[33][34] Yet, in November the same year, despite having to play away from home, and without their talisman and captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Armenia managed what would be the country's greatest comeback in the history, beating Georgia right in Tbilisi 2–1 before stunned the Fyromians, who had qualified for Euro 2020, 1–0, in their designated home game in Cyprus.[35][36] These wins had not just ensured Armenia's promotion to 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B, but it also meant Armenia could be the first Caucasus country to get a FIFA World Cup playoff ticket. Moreover, the League B season in 2022–23 could also ensure Armenia a playoff place for the UEFA Euro 2024.

Armenia participated in the 2022 World Cup qualification and was seen weak to the group containing strong Germany, Iceland, Romania and North Macedonia. Armenia started with a difficult 1–0 win to Liechtenstein away, leaving yet again an impression that Armenia would just end up being mopped by the remainders. However, Armenia stunned both Iceland and Romania on their home fixtures 2–0 and 3–2 to top the group for the first time ever, raising the country's hopes of qualifying for an improbable maiden World Cup. Ultimately however, Armenia's campaign ended in bitter disappointment as they failed to win a single one of their remaining seven qualifying games, finding themselves on the end of a 6-0 trashing by Germany and even being held to a 1–1 draw at home by lowly Liechtenstein. Armenia finished a distant fourth place in the group, ahead of Liechtenstein and an underwhelming Iceland side but six points behind playoff-bound North Macedonia and even five points behind third-placed Romania.[37][38]

Stadium

Armenia vs Portugal during a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match at the Republican Stadium in Yerevan

Hrazdan Stadium was built from 1969 to 1970 on Athens St., Kentron in a period of 18 months with the financial support of the oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. A total amount of 5 million rubles was allocated for Hrazdan.[39] The stadium was named after the slope of the Hrazdan River. It is the largest stadium in Armenia, with more than 70,000 seats. The opening of the stadium took place on 29 November 1970.[39] The Armenia national team played home matches in Hrazdan until 2000. Several Armenian football clubs also played in Hrazdan. In Soviet times, it was one of the largest stadiums in the Soviet Union (among the top four) and one of the few double-tiered stadiums. Hrazdan was the football ground stadium for Ararat Yerevan. Hrazdan Stadium hosted its first official football match on 19 May 1971 when Ararat Yerevan defeated Kairat 3–0 in front of a record 78,000 spectators.[40] The stadium would host Ararat Yerevan for the final victory of the club in the 1973 Soviet Top League and in the 1973 and 1975 Soviet Cup. The Soviet Union national football team played only two matches at the stadium, both of which date back to 1978. In April of that year, in a friendly game against Finland, the USSR won 10–2. Six months later, in a qualifying match for the UEFA Euro 1980 against Greece the Soviet team won again 2–0. The match with Finland hosted 12,000 spectators and the match with Greece hosted 40,000.[7] The capacity of the stadium decreased from 70,000 to an all-seater of 53,849 spectators. By the second half of 2012, Hrazdan was completely renovated to become the regular venue of the national team's home matches.

The Republican Stadium was renovated in 1999 and, since 2000, has been the home ground for Armenia. The stadium was built in 1953 and finished within a year's time.[41] Republican Stadium has a capacity of 14,968. During the Soviet period and onward from 1953 to 1999, it was known as Dinamo Stadium. The stadium had its official name changed to "Republican Stadium named after Vazgen Sargsyan" in 1999, after Armenian war hero and former Prime Minister of Armenia Vazgen Sargsyan, who died that year. Local clubs Pyunik and Ulisses play home matches at the Republican Stadium. In 2008, the stadium went under a large-scale development in order to modernize the playing surface and to create a high level VIP section and other facilities which met UEFA standards.[7]

Armenia played a match in Hrazdan in 2008 against Turkey after partial renovation earlier that year. The number of seats decreased from 75,000 to 53,849.[42] It is planned to hold Armenia's home matches after a complete renovation in 2012. On 12 October 2012, Armenia played a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Italy, but has not used Hrazdan since. Hrazdan is used mostly for Armenian football clubs and a number of other athletic competitions.[7]

Team image

Jerseys and colour

The home gear color were previously the Red-Blue-Orange Armenian tricolour, designed by Stepan Malkhasyants. All three colors were on the first Armenia national team jerseys issued. The definition of the colors, as stated in government website, is:

The Red emblematizes the Armenian Highland, the Armenian people's continued struggle for survival, maintenance of the Orthodox Christian faith, Armenia's independence and freedom. The Blue emblematizes the will of the people of Armenia to live beneath peaceful skies. The Orange emblematizes the creative talent and hard-working nature of the people of Armenia.[43]

In the Euro 2012 qualification matches, played in 2010 and 2011, Armenia's home colors were red-blue-red, produced by Hummel. Beginning with the May 2012 friendly with Greece, Armenia switched to all-red home colours and an all-white away kit produced by Adidas.[7]

Kit suppliers

Kit providerPeriod
Puma1992–1999
Lotto2000–2003
Hummel2004–2011
Adidas2012–2017
Macron2018–present

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2023

v  Cyprus
28 March 2023 Friendly Armenia  2–2  Cyprus Yerevan, Armenia
18:00
  • Ranos 50', 59'
ReportStadium: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
Referee: Dumitru Muntean (Moldova)
v  Armenia
16 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Wales  2–4  Armenia Cardiff, Wales
22:45
Report
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 32,774
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria)
v  Latvia
19 June 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Armenia  2–1  Latvia Yerevan, Armenia
18:00ReportStadium: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
Attendance: 13,450
Referee: Peter Kralović (Slovakia)
v  Armenia
8 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Turkey  1–1  Armenia Eskişehir, Turkey
20:45ReportStadium: New Eskişehir Stadium
Attendance: 31,740
Referee: Daniele Orsato (Italy)
v  Croatia
11 September 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Armenia  0–1  Croatia Yerevan, Armenia
18:00ReportStadium: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
Attendance: 14,233
Referee: Clément Turpin (France)
v  Armenia
12 October 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Latvia  2–0  Armenia Riga, Latvia
18:00ReportStadium: Skonto Stadium
Attendance: 5,128
Referee: Rade Obrenovič (Slovenia)
v  Wales
18 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Armenia  1–1  Wales Yerevan, Armenia
18:00 UTC+4Report
Stadium: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
Attendance: 14,271
Referee: Benoît Bastien (France)
v  Armenia
21 November 2023 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Croatia  1–0  Armenia Zagreb, Croatia
20:45 UTC+1ReportStadium: Stadion Maksimir
Attendance: 20,398
Referee: Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia)

2024

v  Kosovo
22 March 2024 Friendly Armenia  0–1  Kosovo Yerevan, Armenia
20:00ReportStadium: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
Referee: Irakli Kvirikashvili (Georgia)
v  Armenia
26 March 2024 Friendly Czech Republic  2–1  Armenia Prague, Czech Republic
22.00
ReportStadium: Stadion Letná
Referee: Julian Weinberger (Austria)
v  Armenia
4 June 2024 Friendly Slovenia  v  Armenia Ljubljana, Slovenia
Stadium: Stožice Stadium
v  Armenia
10 September 2024 2024–25 Nations League North Macedonia  v  Armenia Skopje, North Macedonia
20:45 UTC+2Stadium: Toše Proeski Arena
v  Armenia
10 October 2024 2024–25 Nations League Faroe Islands  v  Armenia Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
19:45 UTC+1Stadium: Tórsvøllur
v  Armenia
17 November 2024 2024–25 Nations League Latvia  v  Armenia Latvia
16:00 UTC+2Stadium: TBD

Managers

Vardan Minasyan, previously held the position from 2009 to 2014 and again briefly in 2018, the longest period of time.
As of match played 26 March 2024
ManagerPeriodPldWonTiedLostGFGAWin %
Eduard Markarov1992–199461231516.67
Samvel Darbinyan1995–1996911752111.11
Khoren Hovhannisyan1996–199716259104112.5
Souren Barseghyan1998–199914428111928.57
Varuzhan Sukiasyan2000–200117377172717.65
Andranik Adamyan (caretaker)2002110020100
Oscar López20022011240
Andranik Adamyan (caretaker)20031001020
Mihai Stoichiță2003–200410415111740
Bernard Casoni2004–2005811651812.5
Henk Wisman2005–2006811651412.5
Ian Porterfield2006–2007102445920
Vardan Minasyan (caretaker)
Tom Jones (caretaker)
200761142816.67
Jan Poulsen2008–20091234591925
Vardan Minasyan2009–20143914421565835.9
Bernard Challandes2014–2015911792311.11
Sargis Hovsepyan (caretaker)20154013290
Varuzhan Sukiasyan2015–20167214121228.57
Artur Petrosyan2016–201810514212150
Vardan Minasyan201841213425
Armen Gyulbudaghyants2018–201912525252041.67
Abraham Khashmanyan2019–202020021100
Joaquín Caparrós2020–2022269512255634.62
Roman Berezovsky (caretaker)20222011240
Oleksandr Petrakov2023–present12237131920

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for friendly matches against Kosovo at home and Czech Republic away on March 22 and 26, 2024 respectively.[44]

Caps and goals correct as of 26 March 2024, after the match against Czech Republic.[45]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
11GKOgnjen Čančarević (1989-09-25) 25 September 1989 (age 34)90 Noah
121GKStanislav Buchnev (1990-07-17) 17 July 1990 (age 33)50 Pyunik
161GKArsen Beglaryan (1993-02-18) 18 February 1993 (age 31)160 Ararat-Armenia

22DFAndré Calisir (1990-06-13) 13 June 1990 (age 33)300 IF Brommapojkarna
32DFVarazdat Haroyan (Captain) (1992-08-24) 24 August 1992 (age 31)813 Qingdao West Coast
52DFStyopa Mkrtchyan (2003-02-17) 17 February 2003 (age 21)160 Osijek
132DFKamo Hovhannisyan (1992-10-05) 5 October 1992 (age 31)803 Ararat-Armenia
152DFZhirayr Margaryan (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 (age 26)70 Urartu
222DFErik Piloyan (2001-01-29) 29 January 2001 (age 23)20 Urartu
42DFGeorgy Arutyunyan (2004-08-09) 9 August 2004 (age 19)120 Krasnodar
62DFSergey Muradyan (2004-08-27) 27 August 2004 (age 19)10 Noah

83MFEduard Spertsyan (2000-06-07) 7 June 2000 (age 23)254 Krasnodar
93MFArtur Serobyan (2003-07-02) 2 July 2003 (age 20)140 Ararat-Armenia
103MFLucas Zelarayán (1992-06-20) 20 June 1992 (age 31)163 Al-Fateh
113MFHovhannes Harutyunyan (1999-05-25) 25 May 1999 (age 24)110 Pyunik
233MFVahan Bichakhchyan (1999-07-09) 9 July 1999 (age 24)323 Pogoń Szczecin
213MFNarek Grigoryan (2001-06-17) 17 June 2001 (age 22)50 FCV Farul
193MFDavid Davidyan (1997-12-14) 14 December 1997 (age 26)20 Pyunik
203MFTigran Avanesyan (2002-04-13) 13 April 2002 (age 22)10 Baltika Kaliningrad

74FWEdgar Sevikyan (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 22)61 Ferencváros
174FWGrant-Leon Ranos (2003-07-20) 20 July 2003 (age 20)114 Borussia Mönchengladbach
184FWArtur Miranyan (1995-12-27) 27 December 1995 (age 28)60 Noah
144FWNorberto Briasco (1996-02-29) 29 February 1996 (age 28)180 Boca Juniors

Recent call-ups

The following players were called up in the last 12 months.

Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsGoalsClubLatest call-up
DFHovhannes Hambardzumyan (1990-10-04) 4 October 1990 (age 33)504 Noahv.  Kosovo, 22 March 2024INJ
DFNair Tiknizyan (1999-05-12) 12 May 1999 (age 24)101 Lokomotiv Moscowv.  Kosovo, 22 March 2024INJ
DFEdgar Grigoryan (1998-08-25) 25 August 1998 (age 25)10 Ararat-Armeniav.  Kosovo, 22 March 2024
DFTaron Voskanyan (1993-02-22) 22 February 1993 (age 31)460 Alashkertv.  Croatia, 21 November 2023
DFAlbert Khachumyan (1999-06-23) 23 June 1999 (age 24)10 Ararat Yerevanv.  Croatia, 21 November 2023

MFUgochukwu Iwu (1999-10-28) 28 October 1999 (age 24)90 Rubin Kazanv.  Kosovo, 22 March 2024INJ
MFEdgar Piloyan (2004-07-11) 11 July 2004 (age 19)00 Vanv.  Kosovo, 22 March 2024
MFArtak Dashyan (1989-11-20) 20 November 1989 (age 34)232 Pyunikv.  Croatia, 21 November 2023
MFZhirayr Shaghoyan (2001-04-10) 10 April 2001 (age 23)111 Ararat-Armeniav.  Croatia, 21 November 2023
MFWbeymar Angulo (1992-03-06) 6 March 1992 (age 32)102 Alashkertv.  Croatia, 21 November 2023
MFNarek Aghasaryan (2001-07-15) 15 July 2001 (age 22)00 Urartuv.  Wales, 18 November 2023
MFTigran Barseghyan (1993-09-22) 22 September 1993 (age 30)589 Slovan Bratislavav.  North Macedonia, 17 October 2023

FWSargis Adamyan (1993-05-23) 23 May 1993 (age 30)362 1. FC Kölnv.  Croatia, 11 September 2023

Notes
  • INJ = It is not part of the current squad due to injury.
  • PRE = Preliminary squad/standby.
  • RET = Retired from the national team.

Records

As of matched played 27 March 2024[46]
Players in bold are still active with Armenia.

Most appearances

Sargis Hovsepyan is Armenia's most capped player with 133 appearances.
RankPlayerCapsGoalsCareer
1Sargis Hovsepyan13221992–2012
2Henrikh Mkhitaryan95322007–2021
3Roman Berezovsky9401996–2015
4Varazdat Haroyan8132011–present
5Kamo Hovhannisyan8032012–present
6Gevorg Ghazaryan75142007–2022
7Robert Arzumanyan7452005–2015
8Artur Petrosyan69111992–2004
9Marcos Pizzelli67112008–2019
10Harutyun Vardanyan6311994–2004

Top goalscorers

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is Armenia's top goalscorer with 32 goals.
RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1Henrikh Mkhitaryan (list)32950.342007–2021
2Yura Movsisyan14380.372010–2018
Gevorg Ghazaryan14750.192007–2022
4Marcos Pizzelli11670.162004–2019
Artur Petrosyan11680.161992–2004
6Edgar Manucharyan9540.172004–2017
Tigran Barseghyan9580.162016–present
8Ara Hakobyan7420.171998–2008
9Aleksandr Karapetyan6250.242014–2022
Aras Özbiliz6410.152012–2021
Artur Sarkisov6420.142011–2019
Armen Shahgeldyan6530.111992–2007

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGASquadPldWDLGFGAPosition
1930 to 1990Part of  Soviet UnionPart of  Soviet Union
1994FIFA member from 1992. Not admitted to the tournament.[a]Not admitted to the tournament
1998Did not qualify101548174/6
2002100557196/6
2006122199256/7
2010101186226/6
20141041512135/6
20181021710265/6
2022103349204/6
2026To be determinedTo be determined
2030
2034
Total0/77213174261142

UEFA European Championship

UEFA European Championship recordQualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGAPosition
1960 to 1992Part of  Soviet UnionPart of  Soviet Union
1996Did not qualify101275176/6
2000102268155/6
200482157164/5
2008122374137/8
20121052322103/6
201680265145/5
20201031614255/6
202482249114/5
2028To be determinedTo be determined
2032
Total0/87617154474121

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
SeasonDivisionGroupRoundPos.PldWDLGFGAP/RRK
2018–19D4Group stage2nd6312148 45th
2020–21C2Group stage1st632196 36th
2022–23B1Group stage4th6105417 31st
2024–25C4To be determined
TotalGroup stage
League C
3/318738273131st

All-time head-to-head record

Key
Positive balance (more wins)
Neutral balance (equal W/L ratio)
Negative balance (more losses)

See also

Notes

References

External links