FK Arkadag
Association football club in Turkmenistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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| Full name | Arkadag Futbol Kluby | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The White Horse of Arkadag | |||
| Short name | AFK | |||
| Founded | 1 April 2023 | |||
| Ground | Arkadag Stadium Ashgabat Olympic Stadium (selected matches) | |||
| Capacity | 10,000[1] 45,000 | |||
| Owner | Arkadag City Administration | |||
| President | Arslanmyrat Amanow | |||
| Head coach | Mergen Orazov[2] | |||
| League | Ýokary Liga | |||
| 2025 | Ýokary Liga, 1st of 8 (champions) | |||
| Website | arkadag-fk | |||
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From its first season, Arkadag began collecting titles. Domestically, it won the double, twice in two seasons. In Asia, the team won the AFC Challenge League title in its first participation.
Arkadag has won every domestic match since its founding, and has a streak of more than 60 consecutive domestic wins, the longest ever recorded in world football.[3] However, some accuse the club of serious match-fixing with the help of former Turkmeni president Berdimuhamedow.[4] Hence, Guinness World Records does not accept the streak's legitimacy.[5]
History
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Arkadag was formed in the run-up to the 2023 domestic season.[6] Many of the country's best players joined the club in a transfer window that was specially expanded.[6] Competing in the Turkmenistan top flight right from its foundation,[7][8][9][10] they have undergone criticism by rival fans for being favored by the authorities in the 2023 Ýokary Liga.[11][6] In November, Wladimir Baýramow became the new manager of FK Arkadag, receiving a one-year contract.[12] Also in this month the team logo with the image of an Akhal-Teke horse was presented.[13]
On 3 December, Arkadag clinched their first championship title in the Turkmenistan Higher League, by defeating Altyn Asyr 4–0. They won all 24 league matches.[14] The club had a total of 72 points with a goal difference of 83–17. Their league top scorer was Didar Durdyev with 27 goals.[15][16] They also secured place in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two qualifiers.[17][18][19][20] 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.[21][22] For the team's successful performance in the 2023 season, the team was gifted a MAN bus.[23][24][25]
In June 2023, Arkadag was licensed to participate in the AFC Challenge League.[26] On 7 October 2024, defending champions Arkadag successfully retained their League title after a 5–1 victory over Nebitçi.[27] They got into the group with the Kuwait giants Al-Arabi SC and the reigning Maldives and Kyrgyz champions Maziya and Abdysh-Ata Kant.[28] Their first match was a 2–1 win against Maziya at Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium in Kuwait City.[29] On 29 October 2024, FK Arkadag recorded an upset over Abdysh-Ata Kant by winning 2–0.[30][31]
On 1 November 2024, the club suffered defeat against Al-Arabi to end a streak of 61 consecutive wins in official competitions (50 in the Ýokary Liga, 9 in the Turkmenistan Cup, and 2 in the AFC Challenge League). However, this streak is not recognized by the Guinness World Records due to concerns about the league's governance. The Guinness instead recognizes Al-Hilal's 34 game win streak from 2023–24.[32][33] On 10 May 2025, Arkadag won the inaugural AFC Challenge League after beating Svay Rieng by 2–1 in the final.[34] They became the first club to tentatively qualify for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage. On the eve of the group stage, FK Arkadag added Röwşen Muhadow as the new coach.[35] On September 18, Arkadag earned their first point in the ACL2 debut match, drawing 0–0 with Uzbekistan's Andijon.[36][37] On 25 September 2025, FK Arkadag won the Turkmenistan Super Cup for the second year in a row, defeating FC Ahal by 3–0 at Nusaý Stadium.[38][39]
In September 2025, Turkmen president Serdar Berdimuhamedov awarded the "Medal For the love of the Fatherland" medals to Arkadag members, including club president Arslanmyrat Amanow, former coach Vladimir Bayramov, assistants Ahmet Allaberdiyev and Pawel Matus, administrator Konstantin Grigoryants, as well as players Rasul Çaryýew, Güýçmyrat Annagulyýew, Mekan Saparov, Ahmet Atayev, Welmyrat Ballakow, Mirza Beknazarov, Yazgylych Gurbanov, Didar Durdyýew, and Begench Akmammedov.[40]
Stadiums
Arkadag's main home ground is the 10,000-capacity Arkadag Stadium.[41][42][43][44] Nusaý Stadium used to be the home ground of the club at some Ýokary Liga matches.[45] Ashgabat Olympic Stadium hosted selected AFC Champions League Two matches.
Colours
Crest
The club crest has been a rampant Akhal-Teke horse against the backdrop of the Kopetdag mountains.[13][46] The logo uses white and blue colors.
Kit
Arkadag's traditional home kit predominantly consists of green and white colours.[47] The second set of kit is completely green with white elements.[48]
Current squad
[49][50] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Records
Domestic
| Season | League | Turkmenistan Cup | Top goalscorer | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div. | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos. | Player(s) | Goals | ||
| 2023 | Ýokary Liga | 24 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 17 | 72 | 1st | Winners |  Didar Durdyýew |
27[51][52] |
| 2024 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 147 | 20 | 90 | 1st | Winners | Didar Durdyýew |
31[53] | |
| 2025 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 14 | 81 | 1st | Winners | Begenç Akmämmedow |
17 | |
Continental
- As of match played 18 February 2026
| Competition | Pld. | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Challenge League | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 8 |
| AFC Champions League Two | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Total | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 16 |
| Season | Competition | Round | Nat | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | AFC Challenge League | Group B |  |
Maziya | 2–1 | 1st | |
 |
Abdysh-Ata Kant | 2–0 | |||||
 |
Al-Arabi | 2–3 | |||||
| Quarter-final |  |
East Bengal | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | ||
| Semi-final | |
Al-Arabi | 0–2 | 3–0 | 3–2 | ||
| Final |  |
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | ||||
| 2025–26 | AFC Champions League Two | Group B |  |
Al-Ahli | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2nd |
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Andijon | 0–0 | 1–1 | ||||
 |
Al-Khaldiya | 1–0 | 0–2 | ||||
| Round of 16 |  |
Al-Nassr | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | ||
Coaching history
| Name | Nationality | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Guwançmuhammet Öwekow[54] | |
2023 |
| Begençmuhammet Kulyýew[55] | |
2023 |
| Wladimir Baýramow[56] | |
2023–2024 |
| Didar Hajyýew | |
2024 (2024–25 ACGL group stage) |
| Döwletmyrat Annaýew | |
2025 |
| Ahmet Allaberdyýew | |
2025 |
| Röwşen Muhadow[57][35] | |
2025 |
| Mergen Orazow[58] | |
2026– |
Top scorers
| Season | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023[59] | Didar Durdyýew (27) | Begmyrat Baýow (9) | Şanazar Tirkişow (7) |
| 2024[60] | Didar Durdyýew (31) | Altymyrat Annadurdyýew (24) | Begenç Akmämmedow (19) |
| 2025[61] | Didar Durdyýew (27) | Begenç Akmämmedow (17) | Altymyrat Annadurdyýew (16) |
Honours
Domestic
- Ýokary Liga
- Turkmenistan Cup
- Champions (3): 2023, 2024, 2025
- Turkmenistan Super Cup
- Turkmenistan Football Federation Cup
- Champions (1): 2025[65]
Continental
- AFC Challenge League
- Champions (1): 2024–25