Lernayin Artsakh FC () is an association football club formerly based in Stepanakert, breakaway Republic of Artsakh but is registered in the town of Vayk, Vayots Dzor Province, Armenia. The club was founded in 1927 in Soviet Azerbaijan and its current name translates from Armenian as "Mountainous Artsakh".Lernayin Artsakh
History The club was founded in 1927 under the name Dinamo Stepanakert. In 1960, the name was changed to Karabakh and remained by that name until 1989 when it was renamed Artsakh. During the years between 1992 and 1995 they were unable to participate in any competition due to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. In 1995, the club moved from Stepanakert to Yerevan in order to participate in the Armenian Premier League. They subsequently changed their name back to Karabakh.
In 1999, the club was expelled from the Premier League due to financial problems, but managed return to professional football the following year. The club changed its name to Lernayin Artsakh in 2002 and played their home matches in Kapan that year.
The club withdrew from the Armenian top tier before the start of the 2003 season in protest against the exclusion of fellow Premier League club Ararat Yerevan. The next year, the club finished second in the First League and again won promotion. Their return to the highest level in 2002 was of short duration, as they withdrew after playing eleven matches. In 2006 they won promotion to the Premier League for a third time, but this time declined to enter the top flight.
In 2009, the club relocated back to Stepanakert, and started participating in the Artsakh Football League. They have moved back to the First League for 2019–20, thereby voiding their 2019 Artsakh Football League season.
Domestic records since 1978 Season League National Cup Top goalscorer Name Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA GD P Name League1978KarabakhSoviet Second League15461810185346461979346295126538631980113012414404328198144419111469604919821232137124842331983103213514403931198493215314423833198553017211524136198693014214564830198713301231534472719881138176154438401989Artsakh642208147443481990Soviet Lower Second League4321958723543199133826579845571992 no participation1993199419951995-96KarabakhArmenian Premier League7228592928291996-97822741123292519978185310132818199882045112437171999XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX2000Armenian First League21612223614382001Armenian Premier League112226141963122002Lernayin Artsakh92252152152172003 no participation2004Armenian First League23022628220722005Armenian Premier League9163013143792006Armenian First League21812335732392007 no participation20082009Artsakh Football League11615109912462010–2017 No Participation2018Artsakh Football League113103763402019–20Armenian First League132566134344-124-2020–21527122133750-1338-Norik Mkrtchyan72021–2212823416512+5373First roundSargis Metoyan142022–23Armenian Premier League103657241659-4322First roundYeison Racines42023–24Armenian First League42818466227+3558First roundTaiga Kitajima122024–2542413386034+2642Quarter-finalAkhmed Jindoyan13
Honours Armenian First League Champions (1): 2021–22 Artsakh Football League Winners (2): 2009, 2018
Players Current squad
Other players under contract
See also
Football in Armenia
References
External links FC Lernayin Artsakh RSSSF Armenia (and subpages per year)