# Shirak SC

Football Club Shirak (Armenian: Շիրակ Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ), 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 | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | National Cup | Top goalscorer | Top goalscorer | Manager |
| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | National Cup | Name | League | Manager |
| 1992 | Armenian Premier League | 1st | 22 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 58 | 14 | 37 | Semi-final | Grigor Grigoryan | 19 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1993 | Armenian Premier League | 2nd | 28 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 101 | 20 | 49 | Runner-up | Abraham Khashmanyan | 14 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1994 | Armenian Premier League | 1st | 28 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 83 | 19 | 52 | Runner-up | Artur Petrosyan | 15 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1995 | Armenian Premier League | 1st | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 24 | Semi-final | Hovhannes Tahmazyan Samvel Nikolyan Grigor Grigoryan | 4 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1995-96 | Armenian Premier League | 2nd | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 67 | 23 | 51 | Semi-final | Arayik Adamyan | 15 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1996-97 | Armenian Premier League | 4th | 22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 57 | 11 | 47 | Quarter-final | Artur Petrosyan | 11 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1997 | Armenian Premier League | 2nd | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 46 | 8 | 41 | Not held | Artur Petrosyan | 18 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1998 | Armenian Premier League | 2nd | 26 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 72 | 25 | 61 | Quarter-final | Arayik Adamyan | 13 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 1999 | Armenian Premier League | 1st | 32 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 93 | 29 | 73 | Runner-up | Arayik Adamyan | 16 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 2000 | Armenian Premier League | 3rd | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 64 | 21 | 58 | Quarter-final | Artur Petrosyan | 15 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 2001 | Armenian Premier League | 4th | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 52 | 19 | 47 | Semi-final | Ararat Harutyunyan Tigran Davtyan | 9 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 2002 | Armenian Premier League | 2nd | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 49 | 15 | 51 | Quarter-final | Ararat Harutyunyan | 10 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 2003 | Armenian Premier League | 3rd | 28 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 63 | 34 | 53 | Semi-final | Tigran Davtyan | 15 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 2004 | Armenian Premier League | 8th | 28 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 27 | 49 | 21 | Semi-final | Yervand Hakobyan | 7 | Andranik Adamyan |
| 2005 | Armenian Premier League | 8th | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 36 | 12 | Quarter-final | Karen G. Khachatryan Andranik Barikyan | 5 | Zhora Barseghyan |
| 2006 | Armenian Premier League | 7th | 28 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 21 | 64 | 19 | Quarter-final | Ara Mkrtchyan | 5 | Zhora Barseghyan |
| 2007 | Armenian Premier League | 6th | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 37 | 34 | Quarter-final | Artyom Bernetsyan | 7 | Zhora Barseghyan |
| 2008 | Armenian Premier League | 7th | 28 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 15 | 40 | 19 | Quarter-final | Andranik Barikyan | 4 | Zhora Barseghyan |
| 2009 | Armenian Premier League | 6th | 28 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 55 | 23 | Quarter-final | Andranik Barikyan | 8 | Zhora Barseghyan |
| 2010 | Armenian Premier League | 8th | 28 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 22 | 68 | 10 | Quarter-final | Mkrtich Nalbandyan | 9 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2011 | Armenian Premier League | 7th | 28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 42 | 25 | Runner-up | Andranik Barikyan | 10 | Samvel Petrosyan |
| 2011-12 | Armenian Premier League | Only Cup competition was held | Only Cup competition was held | Only Cup competition was held | Only Cup competition was held | Only Cup competition was held | Only Cup competition was held | Only Cup competition was held | Only Cup competition was held | Winner | | | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2012–13 | Armenian Premier League | 1st | 42 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 70 | 38 | 88 | Runner-up | Yoro Lamine Ly | 18 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2013–14 | Armenian Premier League | 2nd | 28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 48 | 31 | 47 | Quarter-final | Serges Déblé | 15 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2014–15 | Armenian Premier League | 3rd | 28 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 51 | 32 | 49 | Quarter-final | Jean-Jacques Bougouhi | 21 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2015–16 | Armenian Premier League | 2nd | 28 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 41 | 27 | 52 | Quarter-final | Konan Odilon Kouakou | 6 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2016–17 | Armenian Premier League | 3rd | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 31 | 24 | 53 | Winner | Viulen Ayvazyan | 8 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2017–18 | Armenian Premier League | 4th | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 37 | 31 | 38 | Semi-final | Moussa Bakayoko | 7 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2018–19 | Armenian Premier League | 7th | 32 | 7 | 15 | 10 | 26 | 30 | 36 | First round | Moussa Bakayoko Aram Muradyan | 4 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2019–20 | Armenian Premier League | 4th | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 40 | 30 | 46 | Second round | Mory Kone | 23 | Vardan Bichakhchyan |
| 2020–21 | Armenian Premier League | 9th | 24 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 19 | 53 | 13 | First round | Artyom Mikaelyan, Igor Stanojević, Arman Aslanyan | 2 | Tigran Davtyan |
| 2021–22 | Armenian First League | 2nd | 28 | 22 | 3 | 3 | 83 | 19 | 69 | First round | Artem Gevorgyan | 12 | Tigran Davtyan |
| 2022–23 | Armenian Premier League | 7th | 36 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 25 | 55 | 36 | Runner-up | Moussa Bakayoko | 7 |
| 2023–24 | Armenian Premier League | 8th | 36 | 8 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 46 | 33 | Semi-final | Donald Kodia | 6 |

### European

    As of match played 27 August 2020
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 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 | –3 |
| Total | 39 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 28 | 68 | –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 |
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | 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 |
| 2013–14 | UEFA Champions League | 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 |
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | 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) |
| 2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | 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

| Period | Kit Manufacturer | Shirt Sponsors |
| 2005-11 | Kappa | Gyumri Beer |
| 2012-14 | Kappa | Sovrano, Fine |
| 2014 | Adidas | Sovrano, Fine |
| 2014-15 | Adidas | VTB Bank |
| 2015–16 | Adidas | Anelik Bank |
| 2016-17 | Adidas | Menu.am |
| 2017-18 | Adidas | TotoGaming |
| 2018-19 | Adidas | |
| 2019- | 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

    As of 11 August 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | SRB | Darko Vukašinović |
| 2 | DF | ARM | Hovhannes Pahlevanyan |
| 4 | DF | ARM | Hamlet Mnatsakanyan |
| 5 | DF | ARM | Hrayr Mkoyan (captain) |
| 6 | MF | ARM | Rafik Misakyan |
| 7 | DF | ARM | Seryozha Urushanyan |
| 8 | MF | ARM | Levon Darbinyan |
| 9 | FW | ARM | Lyova Mryan |
| 10 | FW | ARM | Razmik Hakobyan |
| 11 | MF | ARM | Sergey Manukyan |
| 18 | MF | ARM | Samvel Ghukasyan |
| 19 | MF | CIV | Junior Magico Traore |
| 20 | MF | ARM | Rudik Mkrtchyan |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | FW | CIV | Donald Kodia |
| 23 | FW | ARM | Emil Papikyan |
| 25 | DF | ARM | Gagik Akulyan |
| 26 | DF | SRB | Aleksa Vidić |
| 44 | DF | ARM | Tigran Sumbulyan |
| 47 | MF | ARM | Albert Darbinyan |
| 55 | GK | ARM | Lyova Karapetyan |
| 57 | FW | ARM | Albert Gareginyan |
| 77 | FW | CIV | Mory Kone |
| 88 | DF | ARM | Yuri Vardanyan |
| 96 | GK | ARM | Sokrat Hovhannisyan |
| 97 | FW | CIV | Cedric Doh |
| 99 | DF | ARM | Robert Darbinyan |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | ARM | Mher Tarloyan (at BKMA until 30 June 2025) |

### Technical staff

| Position | Name |
| 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.