Armenian goalkeeping legend Alyosha Abrahamyan has passed away at the age of 72.

Abrahamyan was a member of the FC Ararat team from Yerevan that won the USSR domestic championship in 1973 – the only Armenian team to capture the Soviet title.

Born on 28 August 1945 in Leninakan (now Gyumri), Abrahamyan took his first footballing steps in his native city, playing for the FC Shirak club in the mid-1960s.

Abrahamyan moved to Ararat, and he and his brother Furman – later to pass away in a road accident – were members of the Yerevan club’s team that finished second in the USSR top flight in 1971. He became renowned as one of the best goalkeepers in the USSR, and played a major role in Ararat’s superb league and cup “double” in 1973.

In 1975, Abrahamyan helped Ararat to another cup success. The 1974-75 season saw Ararat, inspired by Abrahamyan’s goalkeeping, reach the European Champion Clubs’ Cup quarter-finals before going out to Bayern Munich.

Abrahamyan ended his playing career in 1978, and immediately went into coaching. He was a long-serving goalkeeper coach for Ararat, FC Banants and FC Mika.