Football Club 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. Although based in Yerevan they are in fact named after the historic town of Alashkert in the Western Armenia, now Eleşkirt.
Alashkert have won the Armenian Premier League title on four occasions and the Armenian Cup once. The club has also won the Armenian Supercup three times.
They are owned by Bagrat Navoyan, a businessman and founder of Bagretour LLC, and have a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian club Botafogo since August 2017.
In 2021, Alashkert qualified for the 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League, become the first club from Armenia to qualify for a UEFA organsied club competition.
History
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.
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.
Domestic record League records of Alashkert FC:RSSSF Armenia (and subpages per year) Season League National Cup Europe Top goalscorer Manager Division Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League 1990 Soviet Lower Second League1718756293719 1991 173812422517928 1992 Armenian Premier League24225215385812Quarter-final Albert Ohanyan 1993–97 No Participation 1998 Armenian First League624987302530Preliminary round 1999 10–––––––First round No Participation 2012–13 Armenian First League1362466803178Quarter-final Vardan Petrosyan15 Albert Sarkisyan 2013–14 Armenian Premier League8286616386924Quarter-final Mihran Manasyan17 Armen Sanamyan Armen Gyulbudaghyants 2014–15 42810810323538Semi-final Mihran Manasyan9 Abraham Khashmanyan 2015–16 1281675502455Semi-finalUEL 2Q Mihran Manasyan Héber16 2016–17 1301974592664Quarter-finalUCL 2Q Mihran Manasyan Artak Yedigaryan13 2017–18 1301488443150Runners UpUCL 2Q Artak Yedigaryan13 Abraham Khashmanyan Varuzhan Sukiasyan 2018–19 43215611372751WinnerUEL 3Q Uroš Nenadović6 Varuzhan Sukiasyan Aram Voskanyan Abraham Khashmanyan 2019–20 3281459513147Quarter-finalUEL 2Q Aleksandar Glišić11 Abraham Khashmanyan Armen Adamyan Yegishe Melikyan 2020–21 1241374251546Runners UpUEL 1Q David Davidyan5 Yegishe Melikyan Abraham Khashmanyan Aleksandr Grigoryan 2021–22 3321499383051Quarter-finalUECL GS José Embaló7 Aleksandr Grigoryan Milan Milanović Aram Voskanyan 2022–23 43620610583766Quarter-finalUECL 1QR Bladimir Díaz11 Karen Barseghyan Vahe Gevorgyan 2023–24 53613617545645Second RoundUECL 2QR Levan Kutalia12 Vahe Gevorgyan 2024–25 9306816245226Second Round- Sargis Metoyan8 Abraham Khashmanyan Edgar Torosyan Albert Safaryan 2025–26 4271656422353Preliminary Round- Karen Nalbandyan14 Vahe Gevorgyan
Records Seasons in top division – 10 (1992–present) Lowest league position – 24 (1992) Biggest 'undefeated' streak in the league – 11 matches (10/05/15 – 19/09/15) Win record for season – 24 (2012–13) (First League) Loss record for season – 22 (1991) (Soviet Lower Second League) Most points in a season – 78 (2012–2013) (First League) Most league goals in a season (club) – 80 (2012–2013) (First League) All time League goals – 834 (since 1990) Most goals in a season (player) – 17, Mihran Manasyan, 2013–14 Biggest win – 6–0 vs FC Artsakh, 2018 Biggest defeat – 9–2 vs Gandzasar Kapan, 2013 Biggest home win – 6–0 vs FC Artsakh, 2018 Biggest home defeat – 5–0 vs FC Pyunik, 2013 Biggest away win – 4–0 vs Gandzasar Kapan, 2018 Biggest away defeat – 9–2 vs Gandzasar Kapan, 2013 Highest attendance ever – 59.047 vs Celtic, 2018 Highest attendance home game – 9.000 vs CFR Cluj, 2018 Highest attendance away game – 59.047 vs Celtic, 2018 Highest attendance in league or cup – 4.000 vs Ararat, 2021 and vs Lori Vanadzor, 2019 All-time most appearances – Artak Grigoryan, 198 All-time top scorer – Mihran Manasyan, 76
Europe 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.
European record
CompetitionPldWDLGFGAGD UEFA Champions League 14 3 5 6 12 20 –8 UEFA Europa League 17 7 3 7 17 23 –6 UEFA Conference League 16 3 5 8 19 30 –11Total471313214873–25
SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAwayAggregateNote 2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q St Johnstone 1–0 1–2 2–2 (a) 2Q Kairat 2–1 0–3 2–4 2016–17 UEFA Champions League 1Q Santa Coloma 3–0 0–0 3–0 2Q Dinamo Tbilisi 1–1 0–2 1–3 2017–18 UEFA Champions League 1Q Santa Coloma 1–0 1–1 2–1 2Q BATE Borisov 1–3 1–1 2–4 2018–19 UEFA Champions League 1Q Celtic 0–3 0–3 0–6 UEFA Europa League 2Q Sutjeska Nikšić 0–0 1–0 1–0 3Q CFR Cluj 0−2 0–5 0–7 2019–20 UEFA Europa League 1Q Makedonija GP 3–1 3–0 6–1 2Q FCSB 0−3 3–2 3–5 2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q Renova 0−1 0–1 2021–22 UEFA Champions League 1Q Connah's Quay Nomads 2–2 3–2 2Q Sheriff Tiraspol 0−1 1−3 1–4 UEFA Europa League 3Q Kairat 3–2 0–0 3−2 PO Rangers 0–0 0–1 0–1 UEFA Europa Conference League GS LASK 0–3 0–2 4th place Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–1 1–4 HJK 2–4 0–1 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Ħamrun Spartans 1–0 1–4 2–4 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Arsenal Tivat 1–1 6–1 7–2 2Q Debrecen 0–1 2–2 2026–27 UEFA Conference League 1Q Yelimay 1–1 2–2 3–3 2Q CFR Cluj 1–1 0–3 1–4
Biggest win in UEFA competitions: 3–0 vs FC Santa Coloma (5 July 2016) and vs Makedonija GP (18 July 2019) Biggest defeat in UEFA competitions: 0–5 vs CFR Cluj (16 August 2018) Club appearances in UEFA competitions: 7 Highest attendance – 59.047 vs Celtic, 2018 Player with most UEFA appearances: Artak Grigoryan – 29 appearances Top scorer in UEFA competitions: Uros Nenadovic – 4 goals Goalkeeper with most clean sheets in UEFA competitions: Ognjen Cancarevic – 5 matches
UEFA coefficient Last update: 12 August 2021
The following list ranks the current position of Alashkert in UEFA club ranking:
Rank Team Points138 Vitesse Arnhem8.500139 Flora Tallinn8.250140 Alashkert8.000141 Kairat8.000142 Hajduk Split8.000
List of opponents by nation Nat. Pld1 W1 D1 L1 GF1 GA1 GD Andorra 4 2 2 0 5 1 +4 Austria 2 0 0 2 0 5 –5 Belarus 2 0 1 1 2 4 –2 Finland 2 0 0 2 2 5 –3 Georgia 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 Israel 2 0 1 1 2 5 –3 Kazakhstan 4 2 1 1 5 6 –1 Malta 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 Moldova 2 0 0 2 1 4 –3 Montenegro 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 Romania 4 1 0 3 3 12 –9 Scotland 6 1 1 4 2 9 –7 Wales 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1
List of opponents by club Club Pld W D L GF GA GD FC Santa Coloma 4 2 2 0 5 1 +4 LASK 2 0 0 2 0 5 –5 BATE Borisov 2 0 1 1 2 4 –2 HJK 2 0 0 2 2 5 –3 Dinamo Tbilisi 2 0 1 1 1 3 –2 Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 0 1 1 2 5 –3 Kairat 4 2 1 1 5 6 –1 Ħamrun Spartans 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 Sheriff Tiraspol 2 0 0 2 1 4 –3 Sutjeska Nikšić 2 1 1 0 1 0 +1 Makedonija GP 2 2 0 0 6 1 +5 Renova 1 0 0 1 0 1 –1 CFR Cluj 2 0 0 2 0 7 –7 FCSB 2 1 0 1 3 5 –2 Celtic 2 0 0 2 0 6 –6 Rangers 2 0 1 1 0 1 –1 St Johnstone 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 Connah's Quay Nomads 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1
Stadiums
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.
Due to the large-scale renovation works at the Alashkert Stadium, Alashkert used the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium and Hrazdan Stadium during the 2013–14 Armenian Premier League season. Alashkert continue to use the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium to host European matches, due to Alashkert Stadium not meeting UEFA stadium category requirements.
The club returned to their own Alashkert Stadium during the 2014–15 Armenian Premier League season.
Honours Armenian Premier League: Winner (4): 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21 Armenian Cup: Winner (1): 2018–19 Runner Up (1): 2017–18 Armenian First League: