Agence France Presse
Feb 12 2010

Football: Minasyan takes over Armenia coach

Yerevan, Feb 12 2010

Pyunik Yerevan manager Vardan Minasyan has been appointed as coach of
the Armenian national team, the country’s football federation press
service announced Friday.

The 36-year-old Minasyan, who had been assistant to Jan Povlsen of
Denmark, has been given a contract through until the end of the Euro
2012 qualifying campaign.

Minasyan won the Armenian national title eight times as a player and
was also a skipper of the national side.

"We were drawn into a very strong qualifying group, where Russia are
clear favourites," Minasyan said.

"Slovakia and Ireland are also very strong opponents but we will do
our best to provide them all with a tough opposition. I hope we can
finish in fourth place in our group."

Macedonia and Andorra were also drawn in the qualifying group with Armenia.