Among the candidates for the position of head coach of the Armenia national team is well-known to Ukrainian fans as a player, and later as a coach Eghishe Melikyan. The specialist was the head coach of Kamenskaya “Stal” and FC “Lviv”, and for the last almost four years he has been heading Yerevan “Pyunik”.
Eghishe Melikyan
— Is it true that you are one of the candidates for the role of head of the Armenia national team?
— This is a very delicate question. I wouldn’t want to comment, but I will say a couple of words nonetheless. For several years now, there has been a conflict between FC “Pyunik” and the Football Federation of Armenia. From the very beginning, I support the president of the club I work for. I fight for him—both on the football field and off it. I think this fact will prevent me from leading the Armenia national team. There are very ambitious people working in our Federation, and for them, personal image is more important than results. I am sure they understand that I can indeed help the national team, but they won’t go for it for the aforementioned reasons.
— And if we assume that the football community—specifically, Armenian fans and independent media—expresses a general opinion to see you in the position of head of the national team, would this step be possible from your side?
— If the public really wants this and makes it known, then only then am I ready to take the appropriate steps. The opinion of the fans and the opinion of the club president is very important to me. After all, the conflict is very serious.
— And what is this conflict about?
— I wouldn’t want to talk about it. I will say only that it is serious enough that “Pyunik” is 99 percent ready to withdraw from the championship.
Dmitry Verbinsky
