Albert Agadzhanov: A Late Start, a Long Road, and a Historic Triumph with the Armenian National Futsal Team

Albert Agadzhanov is a rare story in Armenian futsal. At 31, he is already one of the key players of the Armenian national futsal team — despite entering professional sports unusually late, only at the age of 27. His journey proves that character, work ethic and self-belief can compensate for what is often considered “too late” in high-level sport.

Today, Agadzhanov is Armenia’s first-choice goalkeeper and one of the players who played a decisive role in the team’s historic qualification for the Euro 2026 finals. Throughout the qualifiers he not only delivered crucial saves, but also scored in a pivotal match against Kazakhstan — a moment that became part of modern Armenian futsal history.

Albert was born in Russia to an Armenian-Russian family. He played football from childhood, but his path to professional futsal was long and far from straightforward. After graduating from the Maritime University, he decided to test himself at a new level and in 2020 successfully passed trials at Novaya Generatsiya (Syktyvkar). He made an immediate impact and quickly established himself in the squad. The following seasons took him to Rostov, Sib-Transit and later to Aktobe in Kazakhstan. Since 2024 he has been playing for TZMS Tula, where he consistently performs at a high level.

His debut for the Armenian national team came in 2021 — and within just a few years Agadzhanov became one of its central figures. His confidence, emotional energy, experience, and ability to inspire the team have become an essential part of this historic achievement.

Know Your Team #3 — Albert Agadzhanov
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 31 (February 5, 1994)
Club: TZMS (Tula)
National Team: Key player; Euro 2026 participant

Know Your Team is a series dedicated to those who are writing a new chapter in Armenian sports. Armenia’s futsal national team is the first national side in the country’s independence era to reach the final stage of a European or world championship in any team sport.

Exclusive Interview with Sportaran — Albert Agadzhanov

One of the most inspiring players of the Armenian futsal team talks about his late start, rapid rise, historic success and the upcoming Euro.

— Albert, how would you assess Armenia’s group for Euro 2026?

— I think we got a very balanced group. The favorite is obviously Ukraine, but we are ready to fight any opponent. There will be no easy matches here.

— This is your second season with TZMS. The club aims to reach the Super League, yet competition among goalkeepers is very high. How does this rotation affect the atmosphere, and how do you maintain consistency?

— TZMS really has big ambitions. We have three strong goalkeepers — a bit too many for the Higher League, but perfect for the Super League. I understand that it’s not easy for the coach to choose: each of us is qualified and each of us wants to play. And of course, the Euro is on my mind as well — I’m preparing for it both physically and mentally.

— Your famous goal celebration — where did it come from?

— It started when I began dating my future wife. For the past three and a half years, whenever I score, I dedicate the goal to her with this gesture.

— You had impressive performances against Spain and saved the team more than once. What impressions did you get from facing such a high-level opponent and from the training camp overall?

— Honestly, I don’t think I played perfect matches against Spain — there were mistakes as well as good moments. I know I can do better, and I’m striving for that. But the experience itself was priceless. I really liked Spain — I’m from the south, so that climate feels familiar. It’s a beautiful country, and the people are very relaxed. I’d gladly return — this time for a vacation.

— In your view, what were the key factors behind Armenia’s historic qualification for the Euro?

— The most important thing is that we became a single unit. We all lived with this goal. And the coaching staff and the entire national team personnel played a huge role — they worked tirelessly.