Nair Tiknizyan and His Role at Red Star Belgrade

Armenian national team defender and Lokomotiv Moscow player Nair Tiknizyan may soon change clubs. Right after his matches with the national team, he is expected to travel to Belgrade for a medical check-up and to sign a contract with Serbian giants Crvena Zvezda. This information comes from reputable sources, including insider Ivan Karpov, Armenian journalist Norik Serobyan, and the sports outlet Chempionat.

Let’s take a closer look at Crvena Zvezda’s current situation and the role Tiknizyan might play in the team.

Crvena Zvezda: Serbian Champions and Champions League Contenders

In the 2024/25 season, Crvena Zvezda won the Serbian SuperLiga convincingly and secured a spot in the second qualifying round of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League. Preparations for the new season will begin on June 16, and the club is actively working in the transfer market.

This summer, the Belgrade side has already strengthened the heart of their defense by signing two centre-backs: Serbia international Miloš Veljković from Germany’s Werder Bremen and former Zenit defender Rodrigão.

However, a key issue remains unresolved — the left-back position. Long-time starter Milan Rodić, 34, has left the club, and Tiknizyan is being considered as a direct replacement. The squad currently includes Ghanaian defender Ebenezer Annan, who performed well during the second half of the season and displaced Rodić from the starting lineup. However, Annan may be on the move as both Feyenoord and Scottish club Rangers have shown serious interest. At the moment, Annan is with the Ghana national team, and his future will likely become clearer after the international break.

If Annan stays, Tiknizyan will face competition for the starting role. But even so, Crvena Zvezda aims to have two high-quality players for each position, making the signing of the Armenian defender a strategic move for the club.

Crvena Zvezda’s Tactics and Tiknizyan’s Fit

For many years, Crvena Zvezda has utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation — the same setup used by Lokomotiv Moscow. At his current club, Tiknizyan has played both as a left-back and a left winger. However, competition for attacking wing roles is fierce at Crvena Zvezda: the left flank already features Nemanja Radonjić, Milson, and Peter Olayinka, while the right is occupied by Andrija Maksimović, Luka Ilić, and Silas Wamangituka (on loan last season).

As a result, Nair will focus entirely on the left-back position. This makes perfect sense given his physical conditioning, stamina, and his tendency to join attacking plays. Full-backs play an essential role in Crvena Zvezda’s offensive system, and Tiknizyan fits seamlessly into this style.

Last season of the RPL, Nair Tiknizyan played 17 matches as a left winger and 6 matches as a defender. But in the Armenian national team, he always took to the field as a defender.

Season Goals and Crvena Zvezda’s Ambitions

Last season, Crvena Zvezda reached the UEFA Champions League group stage, securing impressive victories over Stuttgart (5–1) and Young Boys (2–1). In the upcoming season, the club aims to improve its performance in Europe and is working hard to reinforce its squad.

In addition to Veljković, Rodrigão, and Tiknizyan, the club is negotiating with star players like Marko Arnautović and Dušan Tadić — both currently free agents. The attacking line already includes experienced names like Rade Krunić, Max Elšnik, Mirko Ivanić, Nemanja Radonjić, and the young talent Andrija Maksimović, whom Transfermarkt values at €10 million.

The signing of Nair Tiknizyan will be a crucial step in building a competitive team capable of performing at a high level both in domestic competitions and on the international stage.

Armenian footballers in Serbia

Nair Tiknizyan will not be the first Armenian footballer in the Serbian Super League. The current goalkeeper of the Armenian national team, Ognjen Čančarevic, has already played there. He is Serbian and began his football career in his homeland, where he played 143 matches in the Premier League. But he was not yet an Armenian footballer at that time. And the real first Armenian footballer in Serbia was Artur Edigaryan, in the 2019/20 season, the former Armenian national team player played three matches for Proletar.

Another footballer from Armenia, goalkeeper Artem Karapetyan, played in the Serbian First League for Beanija in 2017.