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FC Pyunik

Armenian sports club

FC Pyunik

Armenian sports club

FieldValue
clubnamePyunik
imageFC Pyunik_logo.svg
image_size190px
fullnameFootball Club Pyunik
nicknameՆռնագույններ
founded
groundVazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium
capacity14,403
coordinates
ownerAnton Farber
chrtitleDirector General
chairmanSuren Baghdasaryan
mgrtitleHead coach
managerArtak Oseyan
leagueArmenian Premier League
season2024–25
positionArmenian Premier League, 4th of 11
website
current2025–26 FC Pyunik season
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(Pomegranate Color)

Football Club Pyunik (), commonly known as Pyunik (), is an Armenian professional sports club based in the Kentron neighbourhood of Yerevan. Pyunik is mostly known for its professional football team which, since its creation in 1992, has always played in the Armenian Premier League, becoming the most successful team of Armenia in number of official titles, with 34 won to date.

Pyunik is also known to be one of the most popular football clubs in Armenia, along with Urartu, Shirak and Ararat.

Pyunik has always had a fierce rivalry with Ararat, as both clubs are considered to be the most successful clubs in Armenia, the latter due to its Soviet accomplishments. Both clubs are also the two most popular in the country and favorites within the Armenian Diaspora. Pyunik also shares a rivalry with Urartu which began when Urartu relocated from Abovyan to Yerevan in 2001, and became the third largest team in the city. The Pyunik-Urartu rivalry is seen as one of the biggest clashes in Armenian football.

Pyunik's home stadium is the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, which is also home to the Armenia national football team. The youth academy has produced many Armenian internationals such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Robert Arzumanyan, Karlen Mkrtchyan, Edgar Manucharyan, Varazdat Haroyan and Gevorg Ghazaryan, many who have played or are playing for top European clubs.

International History

Internationally, Pyunik has yet to win an international title, with the closest result being a bronze place finish in the 2006 Commonwealth of Independent States Cup. Pyunik's domestic success usually qualifies the team for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds.

History

Pyunik was founded in 1992 by Armenian football legend Khoren Oganesian and originally named Homenetmen Yerevan. The club won the first Armenian Premier League competition held in 1992 which it shared with Shirak since both teams were tied on points. In 1995, Homenetmen Yerevan was renamed FC Pyunik (Armenian for "Phoenix"). Following the change of name, Pyunik went on to win the 1995–96 Armenian Premier League and end the season with a 59-match unbeaten streak.

In 1996, Pyunik played its first international cup match, a UEFA Europa League qualifying match against Finnish club HJK Helsinki which Pyunik won 3–1. Pyunik also won the 1996-97 Armenian Premier League securing itself another chance at qualifying for an international cup playoffs the following year.

In 1997, Pyunik played its first UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Hungarian side MTK Budapest FC yet failed to qualify for the playoffs following a 6–3 defeat on aggregate.

1998 proved to be a crucial year for the club following the loss of its main source of funding and the subsequent departure of its main players. Pyunik finished 6th that season and withdrew from football altogether.

Pyunik secured a comeback to professional football following its absorption of FC Armenicum, a newly promoted team to the Armenian Premier League. The club's new management sought to bring more experience to the club and reinforced the squad with foreign players from Argentina, Cameroon, Mali and Romania. The reinforcements brought positive results and Pyunik went on to win the 2001 Armenian Premier League and 2002 Armenian Cup.

2002 saw Pyunik advance to the second round of the UEFA Champions League qualifying round after beating Finnish champions Tampere United 6–0 on aggregate. From 2002 forwards, Pyunik went on to win the Armenian Premier League a record of 10 times in a row, from 2001 to 2010.

On 8 January 2020, former Armenian international goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky was announced as the club's new manager. Just over 7-months later, 13 July 2020, Berezovsky left the club by mutual consent. On 20 July 2020, Artak Oseyan was announced as Pyunik's new manager, but left his role as head coach on 13 December 2020. On 7 January 2021, Yegishe Melikyan was announced as Pyunik's new manager.

In the 2022/23 season, after victories over Cluj and Dudelange, Pyunik became the first ever Armenian club to reach the third round of Champions League qualifying, where they played against former European Champions Crvena Zvezda, losing 7–0 on aggregate.

Subsequently, Pyunik dropped into the play-off round of the Europa League, where they played against the Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol. After two scoreless draws, Pyunik lost on penalties, thus dropping into the group stages of the Conference League, the first ever group stage appearance in a European competition for the club.

After a defeat away against Basel on the first matchday, Pyunik faced Slovan Bratislava in their first home match in Yerevan, which they won thanks to goals from Artak Dashyan and Yusuf Otubanjo. This result meant that they became the first ever Armenian team to win a game in UEFA group stage competitions.

On 31 December 2024, Pyunik released a statement stating that ownership of the club had passed from Artur Soghomonyan to Anton Farber.

Domestic history

SeasonLeagueArmenian CupTop goalscorerManagerDiv.Pos.Pl.WDLGSGAPNameLeague
1992Armenian Premier League1st221732753137Runner-UpPoghos Galstyan26
19934th282134802945Semi-finalGegham Hovhannisyan26
19942nd2823141132447Semi-finalArsen Avetisyan39
19952nd11054131819Quarter-finalArsen Avetisyan12
1995–961st221930711460Winner
1996–971st22192167959Runner-UpArsen Avetisyan24
19974th181125421635Varazdat Avetisyan10
19986th266317276821Semi-final
1999Club did not participate.
2000
2001Armenian Premier League1st221723772353Semi-finalArman Karamyan21ARM Samvel Darbinyan
20021st221921851459WinnerArman Karamyan36
20031st282350871174Semi-finalGalust Petrosyan12
20041st282251892571WinnerEdgar Manucharyan
Galust Petrosyan21
20051st201163351539Quarter-finalTigran Davtyan9
20061st282341862373Runner-UpArsen Avetisyan15
20071st281837582257Semi-finalHenrikh Mkhitaryan12
20081st2281855401859Semi-finalAlbert Tadevosyan10
20091st282053641365WinnerHenrikh Mkhitaryan11
20101st282053732265WinnerGevorg Ghazaryan
Marcos Pizzelli16
20113rd2812106332846Quarter-finalEdgar Manucharyan8
2011–12Only Cup competition was heldQuarter-final
2012–134th4219617675163WinnerViulen Ayvazyan11
2013–146th288812413932WinnerSarkis Baloyan10
2014–151st281945582661WinnerCésar Romero21
2015–163rd281396442148Quarter-finalVardan Pogosyan9
2016–174th301299352745Runner-UpAlik Arakelyan6ARM Sargis Hovsepyan
ARM Artak Oseyan
2017–185th309912374136Quarter-finalAlik Arakelyan7ARM Armen Gyulbudaghyants
RUS Aleksei Yeryomenko
ARM Armen Gyulbudaghyants
2018–192nd321868463260Quarter-finalErik Vardanyan8Russia Andrei Talalayev
Russia Aleksandr Tarkhanov
2019–208th228212394226Second RoundDenis Mahmudov9Russia Aleksandr Tarkhanov
Armenia Suren Chakhalyan (Caretaker)
Armenia Roman Berezovsky
2020–217th246711201825First RoundJosé Caraballo3Armenia Artak Oseyan
Armenia Yegishe Melikyan
2021–221st322363522575QuarterfinalHugo Firmino16Armenia Yegishe Melikyan
2022–232nd362556722380SemifinalLuka Juričić
Yusuf Otubanjo17Armenia Yegishe Melikyan
2023–241st3624102842882SemifinalYusuf Otubanjo21Armenia Yegishe Melikyan
2024–254th3017211593753SemifinalYusuf Otubanjo14Armenia Yegishe Melikyan
  • Due to the 1995 season being a transitional season, there was no official winner of championship.
  • Championship was decided by a decision game.

European history

Main article: FC Pyunik in European football

CompetitionGPWDLGFGA±
UEFA Champions League42910233669–33
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup2897122748–21
UEFA Conference League22120103329+4
Total9230174596146−50
SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
1996–97UEFA CupQRHJK Helsinki3–12–5 (aet)5–6
1997–98UEFA Champions League1QMTK Budapest0–23–43–6
2002–03UEFA Champions League1QTampere United2–04–06–0
2QDynamo Kyiv2–20–42–6
2003–04UEFA Champions League1QKR Reykjavík1–01–12–1
2QCSKA Sofia0–20–10–3
2004–05UEFA Champions League1QPobeda Prilep1–13–14–2
2QShakhtar Donetsk1–30–11–4
2005–06UEFA Champions League1QHaka Valkeakoski2–20–12–3
2006–07UEFA Champions League1QSheriff Tiraspol0–00–20–2
2007–08UEFA Champions League1QDerry City2–00–02–0
2QShakhtar Donetsk0–21–21–4
2008–09UEFA Champions League1QAnorthosis Famagusta0–20–10–3
2009–10UEFA Champions League2QDinamo Zagreb0–00–30–3
2010–11UEFA Champions League2QPartizan Belgrade0–11–31–4
2011–12UEFA Champions League2QViktoria Plzeň0–41–51–9
2012–13UEFA Europa League1QZeta Golubovci0–32–12–4
2013–14UEFA Europa League1QTeteks Tetovo1–01–12–1
2QŽalgiris Vilnius1–10–21–3
2014–15UEFA Europa League1QAstana1–40–21–6
2015–16UEFA Champions League1QFolgore2–12–14–2
2QMolde1–00–51–5
2016–17UEFA Europa League1QEuropa FC2–10–22–3
2017–18UEFA Europa League1QSlovan Bratislava1–40–51–9
2018–19UEFA Europa League1QVardar1–02–03–0
2QTobol1–01–22–2 (a)
3QMaccabi Tel Aviv0–01–21–2
2019–20UEFA Europa League1QShkupi3–32–15–4
2QJablonec2–10–02–1
3QWolverhampton Wanderers0–40–40–8
2022–23UEFA Champions League1QCFR Cluj0–02–2 (aet)2–2 (4–3 p)
2QF91 Dudelange0–14−14−2
3QRed Star Belgrade0–20–50–7
UEFA Europa LeaguePOSheriff Tiraspol0–00–00–0 (2–3 p)
UEFA Europa Conference LeagueGroup HBasel1–21–33rd
Slovan Bratislava2−01–2
Žalgiris2−01–2
2023–24UEFA Europa Conference League1QNarva Trans2−03−05−0
2QKalmar FF2−12−14−2
3QBodø/Glimt0–30–30–6
2024–25UEFA Champions League1QDinamo Minsk0–10–00–1
UEFA Conference League2QStruga3–11–24–3
3QOrdabasy1−01−02−0
POCelje1−01–42–4
2025–26UEFA Conference League1QTre Fiori5−00–15−1
2QGyőr2−11–33–4

Kit and badge

Throughout the seasons, Pyunik has predominantly worn blue and white jerseys, with a few exceptions including Pyunik's first jerseys which were orange.

Puma is the club's current kit supplier since 2019.

On 3 August 2020, Pyunik announced that Joma would be supplying the team's kit for the 2020–21 season.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

PeriodKit ManufacturerShirt Sponsors
1992–95
1995–98Erima
2001–02Erima/Diadora
2002–03Holani
2003–04Puma
2004–05Holani
2005–09HummelComplex
2010–13Armenian Development Bank
2014–18Nike, Inc.[NikeArmenian Development Bank/Gold's Gym
2018–19UmbroGold's Gym
2019–20PumaTotoGaming
2020–Joma

Badge

The club has had five different designs for its badge during its history, with the first three designs being significantly different from each other. Following the club's reappearance in 2001, Pyunik introduced its iconic logo design which included a bold letter P placed on top of a football. The club kept this design for 13 years before introducing a double-headed golden phoenix crest in 2014. This change resulted unpopular among the fans and Pyunik introduced a new badge in 2019, this time returning to its original round shape with a predominantly blue logo and a red phoenix in the center.

File:FC Pyunik crest.svg|2014–18 File:FC Pyunik_logo.svg|2019–present

Stadium

Main article: Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium

The stadium during Soviet era
Stadium view

Pyunik used several locations throughout its history. Between 1992 and 1998, Pyunik played at Hrazdan Stadium, Armenia's largest stadium with a capacity for 54,208 spectators.

In 2001, following the renovations works done at the Republican Stadium two years before, Pyunik relocated and played all its home matches there until 2013, with a brief interruption in 2008, when the club was forced to play at Pyunik Stadium; its training ground, due to renovation works at the Republican Stadium.

Between 2013 and 2017, the Yerevan Football Academy served as a home venue for all domestic competitions, while still using the Republican Stadium for international fixtures. At the beginning of 2017–18 Armenian Premier League season, Pyunik used the Republican Stadium as a home venue during the first half of the season, and eventually returning to their own Pyunik Stadium during the second half.

The Republican Stadium is also the home of the Armenia national football team, and is sometimes used by other Armenian teams for their international cup fixtures.

The club is currently planning on building an all-seater 5,000 capacity stadium by 2022.

List of stadiums used by the club

  • Hrazdan Stadium: 1992–98
  • Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium: 2001–08
  • Pyunik Stadium: 2008
  • Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium: 2008–13
  • Yerevan Football Academy Stadium: 2013–17
  • Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium/Pyunik Stadium: 2017–18
  • Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium: 2018–present

Supporters

Pyunik's supporter base is traditionally regarded as part of Yerevan's higher class, in contrast with the supposedly more lower-class base of cross-town arch rival FC Urartu. Because of the club's history and recent success, the fanbase has grown not only in Yerevan, but in other provinces of Armenia and within the Armenian Diaspora as well.

Pyunik is considered to be one of the most popular clubs in Armenia, and has one of the biggest Ultras fanbases in Armenia, called Sector 18, named after the sector they occupy at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.

Rivalries

Pyunik's rivalry with Ararat originates with the creation of the club itself. Pyunik's founder Khoren Oganesian, is considered an Ararat club idol, due to his achievements at the club during the Soviet period, winning the 1975 Soviet Cup. Pyunik's success in recent history has led the club's image to surpass that of Ararat, which has led to arguments over which club has had a bigger impact on Armenian football.

The other rivalry, between Pyunik and Urartu is also known as the clash of Yerevan neighborhoods, since Pyunik is located in the wealthier Kentron neighborhood, whereas Urartu is located in the lower-class Malatia-Sebastia neighborhood. The rivalry between both teams originates from Urartu's relocation from Abovyan to Yerevan in 2001, competing with and eventually becoming one of the largest teams in the city. Both teams' youth academies also compete with each other as they are considered to be two of the best in the country.

Players

Current squad

Out on loan

Technical staff

PositionName
Head coachARM Artak Oseyan
Assistant coachARM Arthur Mkrtchyan
Assistant coachARM Gor Malakyan
Assistant coachARM Artur Avagyan
Goalkeepers coachARM Gurgen Hakobyan
Fitness TrainerITA Ciro Hosseini Varde'i
Head of Medical ServiceUKR Dmitriy Lisityn
MasseursARM Hayk Mnatsakanyan, Sergey Yaylakhanyan and Robert Nersisyan
Team ManagerARM Hovhannes Hayrapetyan
Team AdministratorARM Garik Ghazaryan
Pyunik Academy Head CoachARM Aram Voskanyan

Management

Executive board

Anton Farber is the current owner and President of Pyunik since 2024.

  • General Director: Suren Baghdasaryan
  • Sporting Director: Denys Kulakov
  • Financial Director: Davit Tonoyan

Staff

  • Technical Director: Tigran Poghosyan
  • General Secretary: Lilit Avagyan
  • Sports director of Pyunik Academy: Aram Gyulbudaghyan
  • Chief scout: Nikolai Babkin
  • Head of International Scouting: Victor Lafuente

Honours

Other sports sections

Football reserves and academy

The reserve is currently coached by Levon Stepanyan and competes in the Armenian First League. The youth academy is managed by Aram Voskanyan.

Notable players from the youth academy include Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Robert Arzumanyan, Karlen Mkrtchyan, Edgar Manucharyan, Varazdat Haroyan and Gevorg Ghazaryan.

References

References

  1. "Հայաստանի Առաջնության, Գավաթի և Սուպերգավաթի խաղարկությունները".
  2. "Armenia - List of Cup Finals".
  3. "Club History".
  4. "Armenia - List of Champions".
  5. "Armenia: Top Armenian Football Clubs".
  6. "Armenia always a football hotbed".
  7. (2005) Encyclopedia of Football Head. "George - Hirair LTD", page 63.
  8. "Armenia 1995/96".
  9. (29 June 2015). "Pyunik FC » Record against HJK Helsinki".
  10. [[1996–97 Armenian Premier League]]
  11. (29 June 2015). "Pyunik FC » Record against MTK Budapest".
  12. "Armenia 2001 Premier League".
  13. "Armenia 2002 Premier League".
  14. "2002/03, First qualifying round, 2nd leg".
  15. (8 January 2020). "Ռոման Բերեզովսկին՝ Փյունիկի գլխավոր մարզիչ". FC Pyunik.
  16. (13 July 2020). "Պաշտոնական հայտարարություն․ Ռոման Բերեզովսկի". FC Pyunik.
  17. (20 July 2020). "New appointment: Artak Oseyan". FC Pyunik.
  18. (13 December 2020). "Artak Oseyan left Pyunik". FC Pyunik.
  19. (7 January 2021). "Official statement: Eghishe Melikyan". FC Pyunik.
  20. (31 December 2024). "Statement: New Owner". FC Pyunik.
  21. "Evolution of Pyunik jerseys: 1992-2019 (Photos)".
  22. (3 August 2020). "Joma - new partner of Pyunik FC". FC Pyunik.
  23. "Stadiums".
  24. "Le propriétaire du club de football Pyunik envisage d'investir 15 millions de dollars dans la construction d'un stade et d'une base sportive pour son club".
  25. "Sector 18 Pyunik FC".
  26. "Pyunik". FC Pyunik.
  27. "Aram Voskanyan appointed new head coach of the Pyunik youth sports school".
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