# Ahal FK

Ahal Änew Football Club (Turkmen: Ahal Änew Futbol Kluby), or simply Ahal FK, is a Turkmen professional football club based in the Änew, Ahal Province. Founded in 1989, the club played its first-ever top flight season in 1992. The club plays its home matches at the 20,000 seater Ashgabat Stadium.
Ahal won the 2022 Ýokary Liga, becoming one of eight clubs to have won the Ýokary Liga since its inception in 1992.

## History

During 1989–91, the club participated in the Soviet Second League.
FC Ahal played in the top division of Turkmenistan in 1992, winning bronze medal, but the following year the team was disbanded. The returning season was 1998–99.
In 2013, the team won Cup title, led by Ali Gurbani. In 2013 Turkmenistan Cup final team beat Altyn Asyr and won the trophy for the second time.
In 2014 season the team began by winning the 2014 Super Cup of Turkmenistan, beating HTTU (4–2). In October 2014 the new coach was appointed, Guwançmuhammet Öwekow, which resulted in a victory in the 2014 Turkmenistan Cup, having beaten Balkan (2–1).
In the 2015 season, FC Ahal debuted in AFC Cup, becoming the new dominant force of Turkmenistan football. In the second qualifying round 2015 AFC Cup, FC Ahal defeated the Omani club Fanja SC, earning the right to participate in the group tournament. In September 2015, Boris Grigorýanc was appointed as head coach, replacing Guwançmuhammet Öwekow, who left the position voluntarily.
Between 2016 and 2019, Rovshen Meredov served as head coach. From 2019 to 2020, the role was held by Said Seýidow. In 2021, Hojaahmet Arazow took over.
In 2021, Mergen Orazov was appointed manager of Ahal. In the 2021 Ýokary Liga, FC Ahal won silver medals in the championship for the 7th time and received the right to take part in the 2022 AFC Champions League. Only Ahal were granted an AFC Champions League license, as the Ýokary Liga champions FC Altyn Asyr were only eligible for the 2022 AFC Cup.
In 2022, under the leadership of head coach Mergen Orazov, FC Ahal became Turkmenistan champions for the first time in its history. Ahal also won the Turkmenistan Cup and the Football Federation of Turkmenistan Cup. Mergen Orazov was named the best coach of Turkmenistan in 2022.
FC Ahal has unveiled a new logo ahead of the 2024 Ýokary Liga season. The updated design features a minimal color scheme, with the emblem showcasing the Txrkmennebitönumleri sponsor's symbol and the club's founding year, 1989. Under Welsähet Öwezow, FC Ahal finished second in the 2024 season

### Domestic

| Season | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | Turkmenistan Cup | Top goalscorer | Top goalscorer | Manager |
| Season | Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Turkmenistan Cup | Name | League | Manager |
| 1992 | 1st | 3 | 28 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 103 | 16 | 46 | | | | |
| 1998–99 | 1st | 8 | 32 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 14 | 74 | 19 | | | | |
| 2000 | 1st | 5 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 24 | 29 | | | | |
| 2001 | 1st | 8 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 31 | 93 | 18 | | | | |
| 2002 | 1st | 9 | 32 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 17 | 102 | 9 | | | | |
| 2003 | 1st | 9 | 36 | 7 | 1 | 28 | 25 | 96 | 22 | | | | |
| 2004 | 1st | 7 | 36 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 24 | 64 | 38 | | | | |
| 2005 | 1st | 9 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 37 | 72 | 24 | | | | Armen Sogomonyan Ali Gurbani |
| 2008 | 1st | 10 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 12 | 68 | 4 | | | | Durdy Redzhepov |
| 2009 | 2nd | | | | | | | | | First round | | | |
| 2010 | 1st | 8 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 33 | 16 | Quarter-final | | | |
| 2011 | 1st | 8 | 36 | 9 | 4 | 23 | 40 | 83 | 31 | Quarter-final | | | Armen Sogomonyan |
| 2012 | 1st | 4 | 32 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 59 | 45 | 50 | First round | Didar Durdyýew | 14 | Baýram Durdyýew Ahmet Agamyradow |
| 2013 | 1st | 6 | 36 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 62 | 41 | 56 | Winners | | | Ali Gurbani |
| 2014 | 1st | 2 | 36 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 85 | 24 | 87 | Winners | | | Ali Gurbani Guwançmuhammet Öwekow |
| 2015 | 1st | 5 | 36 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 67 | 54 | 58 | Quarter-final | | | Guwançmuhammet Öwekow Boris Grigorýants |
| 2016 | 1st | 4 | 36 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 63 | 42 | 62 | Quarter-final | | | |
| 2017 | 1st | 2 | 32 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 70 | 21 | 72 | Winners | | | |
| 2018 | 1st | 2 | 28 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 55 | 22 | 60 | Semi-final | | | |
| 2019 | 1st | 2 | 28 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 44 | 17 | 54 | Final | Didar Durdyýew | 14 | Röwşen Meredow Amangylyç Koçumow Baýramnyýaz Berdiýew |
| 2020 | 1st | 2 | 28 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 54 | 29 | 55 | Semifinal | Elman Tagaýew | 16 | |
| 2021 | 1st | 2 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 25 | 11 | 29 | Final | Elman Tagaýew | 10 | |
| 2022 | 1st | 1 | 28 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 89 | 21 | 73 | Winners | Didar Durdyýew | 27 | |

### Continental history

    As of match played 22 April 2021
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| AFC Cup | 20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 30 | 23 |
| AFC Champions League | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| Total | 26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 36 | 32 |
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
| 2015 | AFC Cup | Preliminary round | Dordoi Bishkek | 3–0 | – | 3–0 |
| 2015 | AFC Cup | Preliminary round | Fanja | – | 3–2 | 3–2 |
| 2015 | AFC Cup | Group D | Qadsia | 0–1 | 0–2 | 4th |
| 2015 | AFC Cup | Group D | Istiklol | 1–2 | 2–5 | 4th |
| 2015 | AFC Cup | Group D | Erbil | 2–1 | 3–2 | 4th |
| 2018 | AFC Cup | Group D | Istiklol | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3rd |
| 2018 | AFC Cup | Group D | Altyn Asyr | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3rd |
| 2018 | AFC Cup | Group D | Alay | 5–0 | 3–2 | 3rd |
| 2019 | AFC Cup | Preliminary round | Alay | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| 2019 | AFC Cup | Preliminary round | Khujand | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1(a) |
| 2020 | AFC Cup | Preliminary round | Alay | — | — | w/o |
| 2021 | AFC Cup | Group E | Dordoi Bishkek | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1st |
| 2021 | AFC Cup | Group E | Ravshan | 3–1 | 3–1 | | 1st |
| 2021 | AFC Cup | West Asia Zone Finals | Nasaf | 2–3 | – | 2–3 |
| 2022 | AFC Champions League | Group C | Foolad | 0–1 | 0–1 | 4th |
| 2022 | AFC Champions League | Group C | Al-Gharafa | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4th |
| 2022 | AFC Champions League | Group C | Shabab Al Ahli | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4th |

## Honours

* Turkmenistan Higher League
** Champions (1): 2022
** Runners-up (7): 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
* Turkmenistan Cup
** Champions (4): 2013, 2014, 2017, 2022
** Runners-up (2): 2019, 2021, 2023
* Turkmenistan Super Cup
** Champions (1): 2014
** Runners-up (3): 2015, 2018, 2020

## Current squad

    As of 22 April 2022
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 | TKM | Rustem Ahallyyev |
| 2 | DF | TKM | Hojamuhammedov Azatmuhammet |
| 3 | DF | TKM | Gurbanguly Aşyrow |
| 4 | DF | TKM | Şöhrat Söýünow |
| 5 | DF | TKM | Abdy Bäşimow |
| 6 | DF | TKM | Dayanch Nuryyev |
| 7 | FW | TKM | Arslanmyrat Amanow |
| 8 | MF | TKM | Mirza Beknazarow |
| 10 | MF | TKM | Gurban Annayev |
| 11 | FW | TKM | Didar Durdyýew |
| 12 | DF | TKM | Ybrayym Mammedov |
| 13 | GK | TKM | Öwezmyrat Öwezmyradow |
| 14 | FW | TKM | Meylis Diniyev |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | MF | TKM | Amir Gurbani |
| 19 | MF | TKM | Arzuvguly Sapargulyyev |
| 21 | MF | TKM | Resul Hojaýew |
| 22 | GK | TKM | Rasul Çaryýew |
| 23 | MF | TKM | Hoshgeldi Hojovov |
| 27 | MF | TKM | Ilýa Tamurkin |
| 29 | MF | TKM | Serdar Geldiýew |
| 30 | FW | TKM | Dayanch Meredov |
| 35 | GK | TKM | Muhammet Ovezov |
| 70 | MF | TKM | Shanazar Tirkishov |
| 71 | DF | TKM | Ata Geldiýew |
| 77 | MF | TKM | Elman Tagaýew |
| 98 | MF | TKM | Dovran Hojamammedov |

## Personnel
### Team management

| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Welsahet Öwezow |
| Coach | Röwşen Muhadow |
| Coach | Didar Hajyýew |
| Goalkeeper coach | Pawel Matus |
| Fitness coach | Mekan Muhammetmyradow |
| Doctor | Parahat Bäşimow |
| Doctor | Agamyrat Annagoçew |
| Video operator | Ildar Taşliýew |
| Masseur | Maksatmyrat Ilýasow |

### Corporate hierarchy

| Position | Name |
| Chairman | Gurbandurdy Öwekow |
| Chairman | Sähetmyrat Aliýew |
| Team Chief | |
| Main administrator | Çarymämmet Orazmämmedow |
| Administrator | Agajan Orazmyradow |
| Administrator | Begençhmuhammet Kuliýew |
| Administrator | Konstantin Grigorýans |

## Managers

* Amangylyç Koçumow (2000)
* Armen Sogomonyan (2005)
* Ali Gurbani (2005)
* Durdy Redzhepov (2008)
* Armen Sogomonyan (2011)
* Baýram Durdyýew (2012)
* Ali Gurbani (2013–14)
* Guwançmuhammet Öwekow (2014–20??)
* Röwşen Meredow (September 2016 – September 2019)
* Amangylyç Koçumow (September 2019 – October 2019)
* Baýramnyýaz Berdiýew (November 2019 – January 2020)
* Hojaahmet Arazow (January 2020 – August 2020)
* Said Seýidow (August 2020 – December 2020)
* Hojaahmet Arazow (January 2021 – December 2021)
* Mergen Orazov (January 2022 – December 2022)
* Serdar Geldiýew (January 2023 – April 2024)
* Döwletmyrat Annaýew (April 2024 – June 2024)
* Welsähet Öwezow (June 2024 – )

## Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

The team is owned by the Main Department Türkmennebitönumleri (Turkmen Petroleum Products) of the State Concern Türkmennebit.
| Period | Kit supplier | Shirt sponsor |
| 2018–2020 | Nike | TNÖ |
| 2021 | Jako | TNÖ |
| 2022 | Nike | TNÖ |
| 2023– | Hümmel | TNÖ and Dragon Oil |

## Players on international cups

| Cup | Players |
| 2019 AFC Asian Cup | Güýçmyrat Annagulyýew, Wezirgeldi Ylýasow, Süleýman Muhadow, Merdan Gurbanow, Batyr Babaýew, Myrat Annaýew, Döwran Orazalyýew |