Rui Mota Leaves Noah: The Coach Who Made History Says Goodbye

Portuguese specialist Rui Mota is stepping down as head coach of FC Noah. An official announcement is expected in the coming days, but it is already known that the 46-year-old coach is close to signing a contract with Bulgarian giants Ludogorets. The parties are currently negotiating the terms of compensation for the early termination of his existing contract, which was set to run for one more season.

Rui Mota took charge of Noah in July 2024 and quickly sparked a true revolution in Armenian football. Under his leadership, the club won the Armenian Premier League for the first time in its history and achieved a historic domestic double by winning the Armenian Cup for a second time. The team broke numerous records in terms of points earned and attacking output, showcasing a bright and offensive style of football.

One of the most notable accomplishments under Mota was Noah's historic European campaign. Starting from the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League, the team defeated opponents such as AEK (Greece), Shkëndija (North Macedonia), Sliema (Malta), and Ružomberok (Slovakia) to reach the group stage of the competition.

It seemed that Mota would lead the team to new heights in Noah’s debut UEFA Champions League campaign. However, the situation changed abruptly in June. According to sources, the coach received offers from several European clubs and, not having received an improved offer from Noah, decided to move on. This came as a surprise to the club’s management, who had provided Mota with all the necessary conditions — including a high salary and full sporting control.

According to MS_Inside, Noah has already reached an agreement with a new high-level specialist, whose name will be announced soon. As for Mota, he is expected to sign a 1+1 deal with Ludogorets, who recently parted ways with Serbian coach Igor Jovanović — the 2024/25 Bulgarian league champion.