FK Arkadag (Turkmen: Arkadag Futbol Kluby, Arkadag FK) is a professional football club based in Arkadag, Turkmenistan. Founded in 2023 by Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the club plays in the Ýokary Liga. It became the national champion in their first season.

Arkadag
Full nameArkadag Futbol Kluby
Founded1 April 2023; 19 months ago (2023-04-01)
GroundArkadag Stadium
Capacity10,000[1]
OwnerArkadag City Administration
ManagerWladimir Baýramow
LeagueÝokary Liga
2024Ýokary Liga, 1st of 9 (champions)[2]
Current season

History

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The beginning

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Arkadag was formed in the run-up to the 2023 domestic season.[3] Many of the country's best players joined the club in a transfer window that was specially expanded to allow for this.[3] Competing in the Turkmenistan top flight right from its foundation,[4][5][6][7] they have undergone criticism by fans who have accused them of being favored by the authorities in the 2023 Ýokary Liga.[8][3]

In November, Wladimir Baýramow became the new manager of FK Arkadag, receiving a one-year contract.[9] Also in this month the team logo with the image of an Akhal-Teke horse was presented.[10]

 
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, second President of Turkmenistan, the team founder.

On 3 December, Arkadag clinched their first championship title in the Turkmenistan Higher League, by defeating Altyn Asyr 4–0, and won all 24 league matches.[11] The team scored a total of 72 points with a goal difference of 83–17. The club's and league top scorer with 27 goals was Didar Durdyev.[12][13] They also secured place in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two qualifiers.[14][15][16][17] On 24 December 2023, Wladimir Baýramow guided Arkadag to their second trophy, defeating Ahal FK 3–0 in Turkmenistan Cup final at the Arkadag Stadium.[18][19] For the team's successful performance in the 2023 season, the team was gifted a MAN bus.[20][21][22]

In June 2023, Arkadag was licensed to participate the AFC Challenge League.[23] On 7 October 2024, defending champions Arkadag successfully retained their League title after a 5-1 victory over Nebitçi.[24]

In the AFC Challenge League, Arkadag got into the group with Kuwait giants Al-Arabi SC and reigning Maldives and Kyrgyz champions Maziya and FC Abdysh-Ata Kant, respectively. [25] Their first match was a 2–1 win against Maziya SRC in Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Kuwait City. [26] On 29 October 2024, FK Arkadag recorded an upset over FC Abdysh-Ata Kant in the AFC Challenge League by winning 2–0. [27][28]

On 1 November 2024, the team suffered its first defeat since its establishment against Al-Arabi of Kuwait on the third day of the group stage of the Challenge League, to end a streak of 61 consecutive wins in all official competitions (50 in the Ýokary Liga, 9 in the Turkmenistan Cup, and 2 in the AFC Challenge Cup), marking the longest winning streak in football history. Additionally, the club was only one match away from equaling the world record unbeaten streak of 62 matches, held by Celtic between 1915 and 1917.

Records

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Domestic

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Season League Turkmenistan Cup Top goalscorer Manager
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
2023 1st 1st 24 24 0 0 83 17 72 Winners   Didar Durdyýew 27 [29][30]   Guwançmuhammet Öwekow
  Begençmuhammet Kulyýew
2024 1st 1st   Wladimir Baýramow

Continental

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Competition Pld W D L GF GA
AFC Challenge League 3 2 0 1 0 0
Total 3 2 0 1 0 0
Season Competition Round Nat Club Home Away Aggregate
2024–25 AFC Challenge League Group B   Maziya 2–1
  Abdysh-Ata Kant 2–0
  Al-Arabi 2–3
Quarter-final   East Bengal

Honours

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Managerial history

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Name Nationality Years
Guwançmuhammet Öwekow[32]   2023
Begençmuhammet Kulyýew[33]   2023
Wladimir Baýramow[34]   2023–

Stadiums

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FC Arkadag's main home ground is the 10,000-capacity Arkadag Stadium.[35][36][37][38]

Nusaý Stadium used to be the home ground of the team at some Ýokary Liga matches.[39]

Colours, kit and crest

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FC Arkadag 's traditional home kit predominantly consists of green and white colours.[40] The second set of kit is completely green with white elements.[41]

Crest

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The club crest has been a rampant Akhal-Teke horse against the backdrop of the Kopetdag mountains.[10][42] The logo uses white and blue colors.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

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Period Brand Sponsor
2023–present Jako[40] Arkadag City Administration[40]

Current squad

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As of October 2024[43][44]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
16 GK   TKM Gurbanmyrat Garaýew
GK   TKM Rasul Çaryýew
1 GK   TKM Rüstem Ahallyýew
GK   TKM Arslan Ýoldaşew
35 GK   TKM Kakageldi Berdiýew
2 DF   TKM Güýçmyrat Annagulyýew
4 DF   TKM Mekan Saparow
34 DF   TKM Ilýas Çaryýew
27 MF   TKM Ilýa Tamurkin
7 MF   TKM Arslanmyrat Amanow (Captain)
21 MF   TKM Mirza Beknazarow
10 MF   TKM Resul Hojaýew
FW   TKM Yhlas Saparmämmedow
20 MF   TKM Begmyrat Baýow
19 MF   TKM Begenç Akmämmedow
No. Pos. Nation Player
5 DF   TKM Abdy Bäşimow
13 MF   TKM Welmyrat Ballakow
12 MF   TKM Ybraýym Mämmedow
MF   TKM Silapberdi Goşşanow
18 MF   TKM Arzuwguly Sapargulýyew
77 MF   TKM Şamämmet Hydyrow
6 MF   TKM Nazar Towakelow
MF   TKM Meýlis Durdyýew
17 FW   TKM Altymyrat Annadurdyýew
23 FW   TKM Berdimyrat Rejebow
11 FW   TKM Didar Durdyýew
14 FW   TKM Şanazar Tirkişow
9 FW   TKM Enwer Annaýew

Top scorers

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Scorers
Season First Second Third
2023[45] Didar Durdyýew 27 Begmyrat Baýow 9 Şanazar Tirkişow 7

Notable players

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Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for FK Arkadag.

Turkmenistan

References

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  1. ^ "10-тысячный стадион в "умном" городе Аркадаг примет первый футбольный матч". Turkmenportal. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ a b c Duerden, John (16 April 2024). "Record breakers? Arkadag FC and the winning streak still under scrutiny". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Утвержден официальный логотип футбольного клуба "Аркадаг"". turkmenportal.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ^ "ФК "Аркадаг" продолжает победную серию в Чемпионате Туркменистана. Болельщики возмущены". hronikatm.com. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Созданный две недели назад ФК "Аркадаг" одержал первую победу". hronikatm.com. 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ ""Аркадаг" дебютировал с победы в чемпионате Туркменистана по футболу". 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Turkmenistan: Former leader's football team sweeps league". BBC News. 5 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Владимир Байрамов стал новым главным тренером футбольной команды "Аркадаг" | Спорт". Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Утвержден официальный логотип футбольного клуба "Аркадаг" | Спорт". Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Arkadag topary taryhda ilkinji gezek çempionlyk derejesini gazandy". tff.com.tm. Turkmenistan Football Federation. 3 December 2023. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  12. ^ "ФК "Аркадаг" стал чемпионом Туркменистана, не потеряв ни одного очка | Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru". www.turkmenistan.ru. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Футбольный клуб "Аркадаг" завоевал титул Чемпиона Туркменистана » "СНГ СЕГОДНЯ" - последние новости стран СНГ читайте на SNG.TODAY". "СНГ СЕГОДНЯ" - последние новости стран СНГ читайте на SNG.TODAY. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  14. ^ ""Аркадаг" завершил сезон, выиграв все матчи чемпионата Туркменистана по футболу | Спорт". Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Match Report of Arkadag FK vs Merw BSFK - 2023-04-18 - Ýokary Liga - Global Sports Archive". Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Match Report of Köpetdag FK vs Arkadag FK - 2023-12-20 - Ýokary Liga - Global Sports Archive". Archived from the original on 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Ýokary Liga 2023 - Results, fixtures, tables and stats - Global Sports Archive". Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Президент Туркменистана поздравил "Аркадаг" с победой в чемпионате и Кубке страны по футболу | Спорт". Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  19. ^ ""Аркадаг" выиграл второй трофей – Кубок Туркменистана по футболу". turkmenistan.gov.tm. 25 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Президент Туркменистана подарил спортсменам автомобили » Новости Центральной Азии". Новости Центральной Азии. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Президент Туркменистана подарил "Аркадагу" новый клубный автобус после чемпионского сезона | Спорт". Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  22. ^ "ФК "Аркадаг" получил в подарок от имени Президента Туркменистана автобус". Türkmenistan Habarlar Portaly. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  23. ^ [2]
  24. ^ a b ""Аркадаг" во второй раз подряд стал чемпионом Туркменистана по футболу". tff.com.tm (in Russian). Turkmenistan Football Federation. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
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  26. ^ [4]
  27. ^ [5]
  28. ^ [6]
  29. ^ "JANKÖÝER". jankoyer.com.tm. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Ýokary Liga 2023 - Results, fixtures, tables and stats - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  31. ^ «Аркадаг» досрочно стал чемпионом Туркменистана по футболу. turkmenportal.com. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  32. ^ ""Аркадаг" дебютировал с победы в чемпионате Туркменистана по футболу". 19 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  33. ^ "Главный тренер "Аркадага" Кулиев прокомментировал победу над "Алтын асыром" в Кубке Туркменистана по футболу | Спорт". Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Экс-футболист четырех клубов КПЛ возглавил зарубежную команду". Sports.kz. Archived from the original on 23 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  35. ^ "10-тысячный стадион в "умном" городе Аркадаг примет первый футбольный матч | Спорт". Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  36. ^ "Новый стадион в городе Аркадаг примет первый футбольный матч". 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  37. ^ "В новом городе Аркадаг состоялся первый футбольный матч". July 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  38. ^ "Спортивная инфраструктура города Аркадаг способствует утверждению здорового образа жизни". 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  39. ^ ""Аркадаг" дебютировал в чемпионате Туркменистана по футболу с победы над "Мервом" | Спорт". Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  40. ^ a b c "На форме футболистов "Аркадага" в игре с "Ахалом" появился логотип бренда JAKO | Спорт". Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  41. ^ Turkmenistanyn futbol cempionaty salamnews.tm Archived 26 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  42. ^ "Гурбангулы Бердымухамедов ознакомился с эскизами логотипов футбольной команды "Аркадаг" | Спорт". Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  43. ^ "Главные трансферы зимы 2024 года в туркменском футболе на 26 января | Спорт". Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  44. ^ "Arkadag FK - Soccer - Team Profile - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics - Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  45. ^ [7]