Chelsea resume their UEFA Conference League campaign this week with a home game against FC Noah.
Enzo Maresca’s team won their opening two games of the competition to put themselves in a strong early position to qualify for the knockout phase, which begins in the early part of 2025.
The Blues are playing in this tournament by virtue of finishing sixth in last season’s Premier League, and because Manchester United secured a Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup. They are the best-known side in the 36-team league phase and the heavy favourites to win the trophy, which only had its first campaign in 2021/22.
That means Chelsea fans are getting used to seeing some of the continent’s lesser-known sides facing off against their multi-million-dollar squad. Their next opponents have only existed for a few short years, making this game by far the biggest in their history.
The Sporting News looks at the origins of FC Noah and some of their key players.
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Where are Noah from? Country of origin, history
FC Noah are from Armenia and play in the country’s Premier League.
They finished second in the standings last season, behind champions Pyunik, which earned them a spot in Conference League qualifying. They made it through to the league phase by defeating Shkendija, Sliema, AEK Athens and Ruzomberok.
To qualify for the competition proper represents a huge achievement for the team from Armavir, who were only founded in 2017 as FC Artsakh. Former regional Minister of Defence Karen Abrahamyan bought the club in 2019 and rebranded them as FC Noah. They were purchased by Vardges Vardanyan last year, who plans to build a new stadium as part of plans to elevate the club to become “the foundation for Armenian football’s future”.
Are FC Noah named after the bible character?
They are. According to the Book of Genesis, Noah’s Ark came to rest within the mountains of Ararat after the floodwaters subsided.
This resting place came to be identified with Mount Ararat, a sacred peak to many Armenians, even though it technically lies within Turkey, which borders Armenia to the west.
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Who are FC Noah’s best players?
Noah’s squad, while boasting a large number of Armenian players — including the experienced Artak Dashyan — is a multicultural mix also comprising Brazilians, Portuguese, and others.
Burkina Faso international Gustavo Sangare is among their most experienced players in terms of elite-level football, having played in the Africa Cup of Nations and France’s second tier. Brazilian forward Matheus Aias, who has spent much of his career in Spain, had two years on the books of Orlando City and three years contracted to Watford, although he never played a game for them.
Gudmundur Thorarinsson was an MLS Cup winner with New York City in 2021. The Iceland international is also a well-known singer in his homeland.
Who is FC Noah’s coach?
The head coach is Rui Mota, a 45-year-old Portuguese who only took charge five months ago. His previous work as a performance analyst at Sporting CP helped to foster contacts he used to bring in some of the club’s Portuguese players. Many of the current squad only signed as free agents this year.
Mota and his players are under no illusions as to the task they face against Chelsea. Thorarinsson joked to The Athletic that they would “try to play our football, but there may be times where we will have to park the Ark”.
Chelsea vs. FC Noah live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Conference League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
