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 Western Armenian town of Alashkert, now Eleşkirt in Eastern Turkey. The club is owned by Bagrat Navoyan, an Armenian businessman and founder of «Bagratour» LLC. Alashkert has a cooperation agreement with the Brazilian club Botafogo since August 2017.
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 position in the Armenian Premier League for the 2013–14 season. In 2012–2013, the team was managed by the former Armenian player Albert Sarkisyan and later by former footballer Sergey Erzrumyan. The assistant manager was Aram Hakobyan.
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.
Domestic record
League records of Alashkert FC:
European
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 favorites, 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. In December 2017, Alashkert entered into partnerships with Brazilian clubs Botafogo and Fluminense. On 21 September 2018, Varuzhan Sukiasyan was fired as manager with Owner Bagrat Navoyan, and Alashkert-2 manager Sergey Erzrumyan taking temporary charge.
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. The club returned to their own Alashkert Stadium during the 2014–15 Armenian Premier League season.
Youth teams
Alashkert run a small football school for youth teams on training pitches adjacent to the Alashkert Stadium in Yerevan. They also run a football school in the town of Masis in Ararat Province.
