Recently, the football club "Sardarapat" welcomed distinguished guests from France. The visit to the Armenian club was attended by France's Sports Ambassador Samuel Ducroquet, as well as representatives of the French Embassy in Armenia – Xavier Richard, Cultural and Cooperation Advisor, and Evan Da Costa Marques, Economic and Technical Cooperation Attaché.
During the visit, the guests became acquainted with the history of "Sardarapat," its academy, infrastructure, as well as the club’s mission and goals. Ongoing and future projects were discussed, along with potential directions for cooperation between Armenia and France in football.
The General Director of "Sardarapat," Anush Ananyan, highlighted the significance of the visit:
"It was a great honor for us to welcome France’s Sports Ambassador and representatives of the French Embassy. I am confident that this cooperation will open new opportunities for the development of the club and football in the region," Anush Ananyan told FastNews.am.
Samuel Ducroquet, a supporter of the French club "Lens," which is a partner of "Sardarapat," interacted with young academy players. He shared his impressions, noting that as a child, he could only dream of such conditions for football training. He also recalled the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and emphasized the importance of the upcoming Francophonie Games, which will be held in Armenia in 2027.
The visit concluded with a friendly match, in which the French diplomat himself participated. This allowed the guests to showcase their skills on the field and further connect with the young footballers of the academy.
Football Club "Sardarapat" was founded in 2021 as part of a technical cooperation agreement with "Lens." The training methodologies and programs of the French club have been successfully adapted in Armenia. The club’s academy provides high-quality football education for both boys and girls. Training sessions are held at a modern sports school in the city of Armavir, equipped with everything necessary for the development of young athletes.
This visit strengthened Armenian-French ties in football and opened new prospects for the development of the club and sports cooperation between the two countries.
