Ahal FK

Ahal Änew Football Club (Turkmen: Ahal Änew Futbol Kluby), or simply Ahal FK, is a Turkmen professional football club based in the Änew, Ahal Province. Founded in 1989, the club played its first-ever top flight season in 1992. The club plays its home matches at the 20,000 seater Ashgabat Stadium.

Ahal

Full name	Türkmennebit Döwlet Konserniniň Türkmennebitönümleri Baş Müdirliginiň Ahal Änew Futbol Kluby[1]
Founded	1989; 36 years ago (1989)
Ground	Ashgabat Stadium
Capacity	20,000
Chairman	Gurbandurdy Öwekow
Manager	Welsahet Öwezow
League	Ýokary Liga
2024	Yokary Liga, 2nd of 9
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Ahal won the 2022 Ýokary Liga, becoming one of eight clubs to have won the Ýokary Liga since its inception in 1992.

History

During 1989–91, the club participated in the Soviet Second League.

FC Ahal played in the top division of Turkmenistan in 1992, winning bronze medal, but the following year the team was disbanded. The returning season was 1998–99.

In 2013, the team won Cup title, led by Ali Gurbani. In 2013 Turkmenistan Cup final team beat Altyn Asyr and won the trophy for the second time.^[2]

In 2014 season the team began by winning the 2014 Super Cup of Turkmenistan, beating HTTU (4–2).^[3] In October 2014^[4] the new coach was appointed, Guwançmuhammet Öwekow, which resulted in a victory in the 2014 Turkmenistan Cup,^[5][6] having beaten Balkan (2–1).

In the 2015 season, FC Ahal debuted in AFC Cup, becoming the new dominant force of Turkmenistan football. In the second qualifying round 2015 AFC Cup, FC Ahal defeated the Omani club Fanja SC, earning the right to participate in the group tournament. In September 2015, Boris Grigorýanc was appointed as head coach, replacing Guwançmuhammet Öwekow, who left the position voluntarily.^[7]

Between 2016 and 2019, Rovshen Meredov served as head coach. From 2019 to 2020, the role was held by Said Seýidow. In 2021, Hojaahmet Arazow took over.^[8][9]

In 2021, Mergen Orazov was appointed manager of Ahal. In the 2021 Ýokary Liga, FC Ahal won silver medals in the championship for the 7th time and received the right to take part in the 2022 AFC Champions League.^[10] Only Ahal were granted an AFC Champions League license, as the Ýokary Liga champions FC Altyn Asyr were only eligible for the 2022 AFC Cup.^[11]

In 2022, under the leadership of head coach Mergen Orazov, FC Ahal became Turkmenistan champions for the first time in its history.^{[12][13][14][15]} Ahal also won the Turkmenistan Cup and the Football Federation of Turkmenistan Cup. Mergen Orazov was named the best coach of Turkmenistan in 2022.

FC Ahal has unveiled a new logo ahead of the 2024 Ýokary Liga season. The updated design features a minimal color scheme, with the emblem showcasing the Txrkmennebitönumleri sponsor's symbol and the club's founding year, 1989.^[16] Under Welsähet Öwezow, FC Ahal finished second in the 2024 season

Domestic

Season	League									Turkmenistan Cup	Top goalscorer		Manager
	Div.	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P		Name	League
1992	1st	3	28	22	2	4	103	16	46
1998–99	1st	8	32	5	4	23	14	74	19
2000	1st	5	20	8	5	7	22	24	29
2001	1st	8	32	5	3	24	31	93	18
2002	1st	9	32	2	3	27	17	102	9
2003	1st	9	36	7	1	28	25	96	22
2004	1st	7	36	11	5	20	24	64	38
2005	1st	9	32	6	6	20	37	72	24				Armen Sogomonyan Ali Gurbani
2008	1st	10	20	1	1	18	12	68	4				Durdy Redzhepov
2009	2nd									First round
2010	1st	8	18	5	1	12	13	33	16	Quarter-final
2011	1st	8	36	9	4	23	40	83	31	Quarter-final			Armen Sogomonyan
2012	1st	4	32	15	5	12	59	45	50	First round	Didar Durdyýew	14	Baýram Durdyýew Ahmet Agamyradow
2013	1st	6	36	16	8	12	62	41	56	Winners			Ali Gurbani
2014	1st	2	36	28	3	5	85	24	87	Winners			Ali Gurbani Guwançmuhammet Öwekow
2015	1st	5	36	16	10	10	67	54	58	Quarter-final			Guwançmuhammet Öwekow Boris Grigorýants
2016	1st	4	36	18	8	10	63	42	62	Quarter-final
2017	1st	2	32	22	6	4	70	21	72	Winners
2018	1st	2	28	18	6	4	55	22	60	Semi-final
2019	1st	2	28	15	9	4	44	17	54	Final	Didar Durdyýew	14	Röwşen Meredow Amangylyç Koçumow Baýramnyýaz Berdiýew
2020	1st	2	28	17	4	7	54	29	55	Semifinal	Elman Tagaýew	16
2021	1st	2	14[17]	8	5	1	25	11	29	Final	Elman Tagaýew	10
2022	1st	1	28	23	4	1	89	21	73	Winners	Didar Durdyýew	27

Continental history

As of match played 22 April 2021

Competition	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
AFC Cup	20	10	3	7	30	23
AFC Champions League	6	1	1	4	6	9
Total	26	11	4	11	36	32

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2015	AFC Cup	Preliminary round	Dordoi Bishkek	3–0	–	3–0
			Fanja	–	3–2	3–2
		Group D	Qadsia	0–1	0–2	4th
			Istiklol	1–2	2–5
			Erbil	2–1	3–2
2018	AFC Cup	Group D	Istiklol	0–1	0–1	3rd
			Altyn Asyr	0–0	0–1
			Alay	5–0	3–2
2019	AFC Cup	Preliminary round	Alay	1–0	2–1	3–1
			Khujand	1–1	0–0	1–1(a)
2020	AFC Cup	Preliminary round	Alay	—	—	w/o
2021	AFC Cup	Group E	Dordoi Bishkek	2–0		1st
			Ravshan	3–1
		West Asia Zone Finals	Nasaf	2–3	–	2–3
2022	AFC Champions League	Group C	Foolad	0–1	0–1	4th
			Al-Gharafa	4–2	0–2
			Shabab Al Ahli	1–1	2–1

Honours

• Turkmenistan Higher League
  • Champions (1): 2022
  • Runners-up (7): 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
• Turkmenistan Cup
  • Champions (4): 2013, 2014, 2017, 2022
  • Runners-up (2): 2019, 2021, 2023
• Turkmenistan Super Cup
  • Champions (1): 2014
  • Runners-up (3): 2015, 2018, 2020

Current squad

As of 22 April 2022^[18]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  TKM Rustem Ahallyyev 2 DF  TKM Hojamuhammedov Azatmuhammet 3 DF  TKM Gurbanguly Aşyrow 4 DF  TKM Şöhrat Söýünow 5 DF  TKM Abdy Bäşimow 6 DF  TKM Dayanch Nuryyev 7 FW  TKM Arslanmyrat Amanow 8 MF  TKM Mirza Beknazarow 10 MF  TKM Gurban Annayev 11 FW  TKM Didar Durdyýew 12 DF  TKM Ybrayym Mammedov 13 GK  TKM Öwezmyrat Öwezmyradow 14 FW  TKM Meylis Diniyev

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 MF  TKM Amir Gurbani 19 MF  TKM Arzuvguly Sapargulyyev 21 MF  TKM Resul Hojaýew 22 GK  TKM Rasul Çaryýew 23 MF  TKM Hoshgeldi Hojovov 27 MF  TKM Ilýa Tamurkin 29 MF  TKM Serdar Geldiýew 30 FW  TKM Dayanch Meredov 35 GK  TKM Muhammet Ovezov 70 MF  TKM Shanazar Tirkishov 71 DF  TKM Ata Geldiýew 77 MF  TKM Elman Tagaýew 98 MF  TKM Dovran Hojamammedov

Personnel

Team management

^[19][20]

Position	Name
Head coach	Welsahet Öwezow
Coach	Röwşen Muhadow
Coach	Didar Hajyýew
Goalkeeper coach	Pawel Matus
Fitness coach	Mekan Muhammetmyradow
Doctor	Parahat Bäşimow
Doctor	Agamyrat Annagoçew
Video operator	Ildar Taşliýew
Masseur	Maksatmyrat Ilýasow

Corporate hierarchy

Position	Name
Chairman	Gurbandurdy Öwekow
Chairman	Sähetmyrat Aliýew
Team Chief
Main administrator	Çarymämmet Orazmämmedow
Administrator	Agajan Orazmyradow
Administrator	Begençhmuhammet Kuliýew
Administrator	Konstantin Grigorýans

Managers

• Amangylyç Koçumow (2000)
• Armen Sogomonyan (2005)
• Ali Gurbani (2005)
• Durdy Redzhepov (2008)
• Armen Sogomonyan (2011)
• Baýram Durdyýew (2012)
• Ali Gurbani (2013–14)
• Guwançmuhammet Öwekow (2014–20??)
• Röwşen Meredow (September 2016 – September 2019)
• Amangylyç Koçumow (September 2019 – October 2019)
• Baýramnyýaz Berdiýew (November 2019 – January 2020)^[21]
• Hojaahmet Arazow (January 2020 – August 2020)^[22]
• Said Seýidow (August 2020 – December 2020)^[23]
• Mergen Orazov (January 2021 – December 2022)^{[24][25][26][27][28]}
• Serdar Geldiýew (January 2023 – April 2024)^[29]
• Döwletmyrat Annaýew (April 2024^[30] – June 2024)^[31]
• Welsähet Öwezow (June 2024 – )

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

The team is owned by the Main Department Türkmennebitönumleri (Turkmen Petroleum Products) of the State Concern Türkmennebit.^[32]

Period	Kit supplier	Shirt sponsor
2018–2020	Nike	TNÖ
2021	Jako	TNÖ
2022[33]	Nike[34]	TNÖ
2023[35]–	Hümmel[36]	TNÖ and Dragon Oil[37]

Players on international cups

Cup	Players
2019 AFC Asian Cup	Güýçmyrat Annagulyýew, Wezirgeldi Ylýasow, Süleýman Muhadow, Merdan Gurbanow, Batyr Babaýew, Myrat Annaýew, Döwran Orazalyýew