Yesterday, Club Brugge caused a sensation by reaching the Champions League Round of 16, defeating Europa League winners Atalanta twice. In the first match, the Belgian side won 2-1 at home, and in the return leg, they secured a convincing 3-1 victory in Bergamo.
Now, in the Round of 16, Brugge could face opponents like Lille and Aston Villa. A tough battle is expected, but after such confident performances, the team is ready to go even further.
Interestingly, Brugge barely made it to the playoffs, finishing 24th and edging out Dinamo Zagreb only on tiebreakers. Meanwhile, Atalanta had a strong group-stage campaign, coming within one step of the top eight.
A key highlight of this story is the contribution of an Armenian specialist. The assistant coach of Brugge is 31-year-old Hayk Melkonyan, better known as Hayk Milkon. This promising coach, born in Beirut, has been working within the Belgian club’s system since 2021. In January 2024, he was appointed assistant coach, becoming one of the youngest members of the coaching staff.
Hayk Milkon holds a UEFA-PRO license. He is actively preparing for a head coach career and has already made a name for himself by working with the youth teams of Brugge, Gent, and Mechelen.