Armenia form U20 national team as Djorkaeff prepares squad for Tashkent tournament

The Football Federation of Armenia has formed an under-20 national team and appointed Misha Djorkaeff as head coach. He returns to national-team coaching after the U19 side’s disappointing campaign.

The new squad will hold a training camp at the FFA Technical Centre and Football Academy from September 25 to 29. On October 1, it will travel to Tashkent for a friendly tournament against Uzbekistan, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Among the 26 players called up is promising defender Vanik Sukiasyan of Russian club Kosmos. Arame Minasyan, a Pyunik academy graduate now playing in Spain, has also been included.

Armenia U20 match schedule

• October 2, 17:00 — Uzbekistan vs Armenia
• October 4, 14:00 — Russia vs Armenia
• October 6, 14:00 — Saudi Arabia vs Armenia

Armenia U20 squad

Goalkeepers: Artyom Davydov (BKMA), Vache Gabrielyan (Sardarapat), Sargis Derdzakyan (Mika).

Defenders: Artur Mikayelyan (Gandzasar), Gor Grigoryan, Gor Vasilyan, Marat Babayan (all Noah-2), Vanik Sukiasyan (Kosmos), Karen Hovakimyan (BKMA), Zhora Dadamyan (Urartu), Arman Isayan, Aram Barkhudaryan (both BKMA-2).

Midfielders: Gagik Hovhannisyan, Artak Galstyan (both BKMA-2), Arman Arakelyan, Harutyun Manukyan, Artur Manukyan, Sedrak Movsisyan (all BKMA), Martin Galstyan (Pyunik-2), Gor Manukyan, Vahe Hovhannisyan (both Urartu-2), Narek Aleksanyan (Olympia), Sargis Shahverdyan (Ararat-Armenia).

Forwards: Suren Kirakosyan, Arshak Petrosyan (both BKMA), Arame Minasyan (Murcia).

Armenia’s other youth teams will also play in early October. The U19 side will face Estonia, while the U21 team will play its final qualifying matches against Italy and Montenegro.