Shirak SC

Football Club Shirak (), commonly known as Shirak, is an Armenian professional sports club based in Gyumri. Shirak is known for its professional football team which is one of the oldest football clubs in Armenia, having been created in 1958. The club is the only team that participated in all seasons of the Armenian Premier League since its creation in 1992 until 2021. Shirak is one of the more successful clubs in Armenia, having won a total of 11 domestic titles including four Armenian Premier League titles, two Armenian Cup, and five Armenian Super Cup.

Shirak has yet to qualify for an international tournament playoff round, yet frequently plays UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying matches.

Shirak's home stadium is the 4,500 seater Gyumri City Stadium, the oldest venue in Armenia. Shirak's youth academy has also produced successful players, including Artur Petrosyan and Harutyun Vardanyan.

History Shirak was founded in Gyumri in 1958, when Armenia was still a part of the Soviet Union. The club was originally named Shirak Leninakan, the latter being the name for Gyumri during the Soviet Union. From its creation to the fall of the Soviet Union, Shirak played all its matches in the Soviet third division First League.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union and the renaming of Leninakan, Shirak changed its name to Shirak Kumayri, and was placed in the Armenian Premier League with head coach Andranik Adamyan in charge.

1992 was the first Armenian Premier League season played in history, which ended with Shirak and Pyunik tied at the top with 37 points each. After failing to agree on a tie-breaking match, it was decided to award the title to both teams. Thus, Shirak managed to win the league in the first domestic league in Armenian history.

Shirak once again changed its name in late 1992 after the name Kumayri was changed for Gyumri. Therefore 1993 was the first appearance as Shirak Gyumri in the Armenian Premier League. After finishing second in the 1993 league season, Shirak qualified to the Armenian Cup final for the first time, yet failed to claim the title after losing 3–1 to Ararat.

Shirak went on to win the 1994 and 1995 seasons, however was not given the 1995 title due to it being a transitional spring season.

The next four seasons were not successful for the club, however Shirak managed to claim the league title again in 1999, with striker Arayik Adamyan scoring 16 goals. The league title would end up being the last title Shirak would win until the 2011–12 Armenian Cup.

Shirak would eventually go on to win the 2012–13 Armenian Premier League and the 2016–17 Armenian Cup final.

Domestic history since 1992 Season League National Cup Top goalscorer Manager Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League1992Armenian Premier League1st221732581437Semi-final Grigor Grigoryan19 Andranik Adamyan19932nd2824131012049Runner-up Abraham Khashmanyan1419941st282440831952Runner-up Artur Petrosyan1519951st1073023624Semi-final Hovhannes Tahmazyan Samvel Nikolyan Grigor Grigoryan41995–962nd221633672351Semi-final Arayik Adamyan151996–974th221525571147Quarter-final Artur Petrosyan1119972nd18125146841Not held Artur Petrosyan1819982nd261943722561Quarter-final Arayik Adamyan1319991st322345932973Runner-up Arayik Adamyan1620003rd281774642158Quarter-final Artur Petrosyan1520014th221453521947Semi-final Ararat Harutyunyan Tigran Davtyan920022nd221633491551Quarter-final Ararat Harutyunyan1020033rd281729633453Semi-final Tigran Davtyan1520048th284915274921Semi-final Yervand Hakobyan720058th183312193612Quarter-final Karen G. Khachatryan Andranik Barikyan5 Zhora Barseghyan20067th284717216419Quarter-final Ara Mkrtchyan520076th289712273734Quarter-final Artyom Bernetsyan720087th285419154019Quarter-final Andranik Barikyan420096th285815245523Quarter-final Andranik Barikyan820108th282422226810Quarter-final Mkrtich Nalbandyan9 Vardan Bichakhchyan20117th286715274225Runner-up Andranik Barikyan10 Samvel Petrosyan 2011–12 Only Cup competition was heldWinner Vardan Bichakhchyan2012–131st4226106703888Runner-up Yoro Lamine Ly182013–142nd281387483147Quarter-final Serges Déblé152014–153rd281477513249Quarter-final Jean-Jacques Bougouhi212015–162nd281576412752Quarter-final Konan Odilon Kouakou62016–173rd301659312453Winner Viulen Ayvazyan82017–184th301488373138Semi-final Moussa Bakayoko72018–197th3271510263036First round Moussa Bakayoko Aram Muradyan42019–204th281378403046Second round Mory Kone232020–219th242715195313First round Artyom Mikaelyan, Igor Stanojević, Arman Aslanyan2 Tigran Davtyan2021–22Armenian First League2nd282233831969First round Artem Gevorgyan122022–23Armenian Premier League7th3610620255536Runner-up Moussa Bakayoko72023–248th368919284633Semi-final Donald Kodia62024–257th3010515305035Second round Lyova Mryan5

European

CompetitionPldWDLGFGAGD UEFA Champions League 6 1 3 2 6 5 +1 UEFA Cup & UEFA Europa League 29 4 5 20 15 53 –38 UEFA Intertoto Cup 4 1 1 2 7 10 –3Total3969242868–40

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate 1995–96 UEFA Cup PR Zagłębie Lubin 0–1 0–0 0–1 1996–97 UEFA Cup PR Anorthosis Famagusta 2–2 0–4 2–6 1998–99 UEFA Cup 1Q Malmö 0–2 0–5 0–7 1999–00 UEFA Cup 1Q HJK Helsinki 1–0 0–2 1–2 2000–01 UEFA Champions League 1Q BATE Borisov 1–1 1–2 2–3 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Tatabánya 1–3 3–2 4–5 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Santa Clara 3–3 0–2 3–5 2003–04 UEFA Cup QR Nordsjælland Farum 0–2 0–4 0–6 2004–05 UEFA Cup 1Q Tiraspol 1–2 0–2 1–4 2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1Q Rudar Pljevlja 1–1 1–0 2–1 2Q Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 0–1 0–2 0–3 2013–14 UEFA Champions League 1Q Tre Penne 3–0 0–1 3–1 2Q Partizan Belgrade 1–1 0–0 1–1 2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1Q Shakhter Karagandy 1–2 0–4 1–6 2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q HŠK Zrinjski Mostar 2–0 1–2 3–2 2Q AIK Fotboll 0–2 0–2 0–4 2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q Dila Gori 1–0 (aet) 0–1 1–1 (4–1 p) 2Q Spartak Trnava 1–1 0–2 1–3 2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q Gorica 0–2 2–2 2–4 2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q FCSB 0–3

Kit and badge For most of the club's history, the team's colours were orange and black, inspired by the dominant colours present in Gyumri's architecture, specifically the Holy Saviour's Church, located in the city.

As of 2019, Shirak has reached an agreement with Swiss sportswear company Fourteen to provide all match and training apparel.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors PeriodKit ManufacturerShirt Sponsors2005–11KappaGyumri Beer2012–14KappaSovrano, Fine2014Adidas2014–15VTB Bank2015–16Anelik Bank2016–17Menu.am2017–18TotoGaming2018–192019–Fourteen

Badge The club's current badge design was inspired by Gyumri's seal, with the main feature being the lion and cross which were present on the flag of the Bagratuni dynasty, which ruled Bagratid Armenia during the Middle Ages.

Stadium

Shirak's home stadium has always been the Gyumri City Stadium, built in 1924 and currently the oldest football stadium in the country. Following renovation works in 1999, the stadium became an all-seater stadium with a capacity for 2,844. The stadium pitch and facilities were upgraded in 2012 to meet all UEFA stadium regulations, allowing Shirak to play its UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying matches at home.

The stadium capacity was once again increased, this time to the current 4,500 capacity following a second round of renovations in 2019. These renovations included new seating in the south end of the stadium.

List of stadiums used by the club Gyumri City Stadium: 1958–

Supporters

Shirak's fans are known as the Black Panthers, in honor of the panther that appears on the flag of the Bagratid dynasty. Shirak's supporters are also considered to be one of the best in Armenian football, with high match attendance and active supporters during matches. Supporters have rioted against club management when the club failed to reach desired results in the past.

Rivalries Shirak's main rival is considered to be Gandzasar. This rivalry grew as both teams were the only teams in the league that weren't from Yerevan, and thus competed to be the best team from the provinces.

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Technical staff PositionName Head coach Vardan Bichakhchyan First Assistant Coach Felix Khojoyan Assistant coach Hovhannes Tahmazyan Goalkeepers Coach Artur Hovhannisyan Team Manager Ararat Harutyunyan Masseur Armen Sukiasyan Translator Harutyun Harutyunyan Shirak-2 Coach Tigran Davtyan

Institutional

Executive board Arman Sahakyan has been the President of Shirak since he purchased the club in 2010.

Staff Technical director: Georgi Matevosyan Sporting director: Andranik Adamyan Press Secretary: Arman Maloyan Administrator: Suren Simonyan

Honours

Domestic League Armenian Premier League Champions (4): 1992, 1994, 1999, 2012–13

Cup Armenian Cup Winners (2): 2011–12, 2016–17 Armenian Super Cup Winners (6): 1997, 2000, 2003, 2013, 2017, 2023

Other sports sections

Football reserves and academy Shirak's youth academy has produced several notable players throughout its history. Artur Petrosyan is the most prominent academy product, having a successful career in Armenia and European football.

Shirak's reserves compete in the Armenian First League, the second division in Armenian football. The reserves are currently coached by Tigran Davtyan and also play their matches at the Gyumri City Stadium.

Futsal On 8 September 2017, prior to the beginning of the 2017–18 Armenian Futsal Premier League season, Shirak Sports Club took over the Gyumri Futsal club, who were a founding member of the domestic futsal championship in Armenia which began in 1998. As a result, the futsal team was re-branded as Shirak SC Futsal.

Basketball On 19 September 2017, Shirak announced the creation of a basketball team that would compete in the newly created Armenia Basketball League A.

Shirak SC

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