Armen Melikbekyan: “I was at the stadium when Armenia scored its first official goal”

President of the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA), Armen Melikbekyan, gave an extensive interview to UEFA’s official website, reflecting on his journey in football, the development of Armenian football, the national teams, and the future of the country’s sport.

Leading the FFA since 2019, Melikbekyan this year became the first-ever Armenian elected to the UEFA Executive Committee. In the conversation, he shared his emotions about this achievement and outlined the key priorities of the federation.

“I was there when we scored our first goal”
“I’ve loved football since childhood,” recalls Melikbekyan. “I played in youth teams and later worked as a ball boy. I attended Armenia’s first national team matches back in 1992 and I’m proud that I was on the field when we scored our first official goal — in the EURO 96 qualifiers. You can even spot me behind the goal in that replay.”

Melikbekyan began his career in football as a sports journalist. He joined the federation in 2005, returned in 2018, and was later elected as its president.

First Armenian in UEFA’s Executive Committee
“This is a huge milestone not only for me but for the entire Armenian football family,” said Melikbekyan. “For the first time in history, Armenia is represented in the UEFA Executive Committee. It’s recognition of our work and proof that we’re moving in the right direction.”

On the national team: “Quality of play matters most”
Melikbekyan noted that he always tries to be with the team during international matches:
“Every time I travel with the national team, I feel the same energy and adrenaline as before. For a small federation, it’s constant work and pressure — expectations are high, everyone wants victories.”

At the same time, he emphasized that for Armenia, playing modern, high-quality football is just as important as results:
“Results are vital, of course, but for small nations, the quality of play is even more important. I’m satisfied now — we have a new coach, we’re building a new team, and the football they play is at a very good level.”

Development of club football and infrastructure
The FFA president highlighted the success of FC Noah, which reached the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage for the second consecutive year:
“I really like the Noah project. Vardges Vardanyan invests not only in the team but also in infrastructure development in Vagharshapat. This is a major contribution to Armenian football and youth development.”

He added that the Armenian Premier League is becoming more competitive, and the achievements of Noah and Pyunik help boost the country’s UEFA ranking.

UEFA Nations League — a chance for small nations
“The Nations League has been a valuable experience for us. In 2020, we won League C and moved up to League B, facing strong sides like Scotland, Ireland, and Ukraine. It was great experience and motivation to improve.”

He also praised San Marino’s recent success, calling the Nations League “a fantastic tournament for smaller nations.”

Partnership with Georgia
Melikbekyan spoke about close cooperation with the Georgian Football Federation:
“Levan Kobiashvili, the Georgian FA president and my colleague in the UEFA Executive Committee, has done outstanding work. Georgia’s qualification for EURO 2024 is an inspiration for us and for other smaller associations.”

HatTrick program and new stadiums
As UEFA HatTrick Committee Vice-Chair, Melikbekyan underlined the importance of the program for Armenia’s infrastructure:
“With HatTrick, we built three stadiums, and later the government funded four more academies. A new project has now started — expanding the Vanadzor stadium to 12,000 seats. This will allow the national team to play outside Yerevan for the first time in many years.”

Women’s football and the example of GOALS club
“In 2020, we revived the women’s national team after an eight-year break. It’s a very young team — most players were born between 2006 and 2008, but they already show great character. Developing women’s football is one of our top priorities.”

He also recalled that Armenian club GOALS received a UEFA Grassroots Award:
“This recognition goes beyond the club — it’s for the entire country. Such stories inspire and show that with passion and belief, you can achieve a lot.”