The team named after biblical character with Figo links

With the help of Portugal legend Luis Figo and a new team named after a biblical character, it is safe to say Chelsea won’t face many more intriguing opponents this year.

FC Noah, an Armenian outfit, made history by going to Stamford Bridge to watch FC Noah play in the Conference League league match on Thursday.

They were the only group of 50 qualifying teams to reach the play-offs in the first qualifying round, and they went one step further by winning the tournament in its own right.

They scored 18 goals in qualifying, including goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic registering with a long clearance against AEK Athens, and an 88th-minute winner with 10 men after blowing a 3-0 aggregate lead in their play-off.

They were originally known as Artsakh in 2017, but changed their name in 2019. In addition to changing ownership and moving stadiums and even moving cities, they have had their share of changes in their brief existence.

Before this season, they had never advanced to the European round, but they did win the Armenian Cup in 2020.

And now they travel to Stamford Bridge to play one of the biggest games in Armenian football history with a team that has only been together for a short while.

Vardges Vardanyan, a successful businessman, changed manager after finishing second last year, only two points behind champions FC Pyunik, who also brought in Portuguese Rui Mota and a largely fresh squad.

In a complete overhaul, Chelsea could only hope for, as of this summer, they signed three more players, three more in the first half of 2024. No one has spent more than two years with the club.

Mota, despite only being 45 years old, has already worked in Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Belgium, Brazil, Turkey, Iran, Croatia and Georgia.

Being in the Conference League puts the club in the spotlight, he said, “to show the world to European football, because now everyone knows who Noah is.”

“The Chelsea game is special because it involves playing one of the best teams in European football,” says the player. It’s an honour to have this game.

In August of this year, Vardanyan, the owner of one of the largest IT companies in the country, took over the club and almost immediately transformed them.

We made the wise decision to rebuild the team in accordance with our lofty objectives during the summer transfer window, he told BBC Sport.

We worked tirelessly to strengthen the squad, making sure it was prepared and competitive for the Conference League, starting with just nine players on June 17.

“This success drives us to set even higher goals, continue our development, and cement Noah’s place among the leading clubs in European football”.

He continued, “I set a goal for the team to advance to the Conference League group stage before the start of the European season.”

” Many viewed this as an unrealistic and nearly impossible target, but as you can see, despite all the challenges and obstacles, we have made it. “

Vardanyan also has loftier goals.

” Ultimately, my aim is to contribute to the growth of Armenian football and build a legacy that will serve future generations, “he said.

Our investments and resource allocation are unprecedented in Armenian football history.

“With Noah, my long-term objective is to create a competitive club with a distinct brand and presence on the European football scene.

Davit Alaverdyan, chief editor of Mediamax Media Company in Yerevan, said:” Although the club was founded in 2017, in 2022-23 it was completely transformed with a new owner and management, so in that sense it can really be considered new.

“Such a success is truly unprecedented”.

Although Figo, a former player for Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Portugal, appears unlikely to have any connection to an Armenian club side, club owner Vardanyan said: “Luis Figo was one of the first to back my vision of building this project.

He backed the program’s success and expressed his desire to help in crucial areas. We are friends and often discuss the club’s development, with Figo providing valuable advice.

“We have big plans with Figo, particularly in promoting Noah’s young talents abroad and enhancing the club’s international reputation”.

Their fan base is still catching up despite the club’s sudden rise and nomadic past. They have had several different stadiums, in capital Yerevan, plus Armavir and currently Abovyan.

Their European matches are being played at Yerevan’s Republican Stadium, and they are renovating the nearby city of Echmiatsin.

“Until recently, the team did not have many fans, but success on the international stage has led to the number increasing with each game”, said journalist Alaverdyan.

“A stadium for 20, 000 people, as well as a football academy, is being built near Yerevan”.

And what club’s name in the Bible is that?

The Mount Ararat, which dominates the Yerevan horizon and is just over the border in modern Turkey, is said to be where Noah’s Ark landed.

In the fourth century, Armenia became the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its national holiday.

“A significant part of Armenia is located in the Ararat Valley, so the themes of Ararat, Noah and his Ark have sacred meaning for Armenians”, said Alaverdyan.

One of their longest-serving players, Captain Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, joined in August 2023 as one of their players.

“Being part of Noah’s project is something special for all of us”, said the 34-year-old Armenia right-back.