ASA Issy

ASOA Issy
Full name Association Sportive Ararat Issy
Founded 1975
Ground Parc des sports
Issy-les-Moulineaux
League CFA2 Group G
2008-09 CFA2 Group G, 11th

Association Sportive Ararat Issy is a French football club founded in 1975 based in Issy-les-Moulineaux. Managed by Franck Toutoundjian, A.S.A Issy (or A.S Ararat Issy) plays in the CFA 2 in 2009-10.

History

In 1974, a group of friends decided to create a football club for Armenian community of Ile-de-France. It was essentially a way of sharing their passion for sport with the youth of the community at the same time as transmitting some of the rich cultural heritage of Armenia, one of the oldest civilisations in the world.

The Association Sportive Arménienne (A.S.A) decided to play in Issy-les-Moulineaux after the request of Armand Zarpanelian, former player who built the stadium in 1981. The club had around 60 players and played in the first Division in the District.

At the start of the 1990s, A.S.A Issy had been promoted three years running, and played in the first Division of the District of the D.H (Division d’Honneur). The match to get promoted to the P.H (Promotion d’Honneur) is well remembered. 1200 people watched the 3-0 victory for A.S.A Issy against F.C Montrouge 92, an attendance record for this level of match.

The team has not yet dropped back down to this level, but they have had difficult seasons in their history. It took a 2-0 victory against F.C Massy 91, to stay in the D.H (Division d’Honneur), with two extraordinary goals from Michel Milosevic, both player and general manager.

To begin with, the club only used players of Armenian origin. A.S.A Issy became progressively more open, and tries to conserve and develop a community and familial spirit. Franck Toutoundjian, club president, is quoted as saying: "the community aspect has never been a fixation, but we are the only community club playing in the C.F.A 2". This is why, in 2003, the club changed its name from Association Sportive Arménienne, to Association Sportive d’Origine Arménienne, so that A.S.A Issy became A.S.O.A Issy. The club currently has around 400 members, with thirty coaches and fifteen technicians. The club also has twelve refererees and two controllers represented on the board of the District of Hauts-de-Seine (92).

At the end of the 2005/2006 season, the A.S.O.A Issy team finished in first place with the best attack, the best defence, and the two highest scorers in the league (Eric Akoun and Julien Potier). After 14 seasons in the D.H (Division d'Honneur), the team began the 2006/2007 season in C.F.A 2 and therefore represented the town of Issy-les-Moulineaux as well as the agglomoration of Arc de Seine (five towns with almost 165 000 inhabitants).

A.S.O.A Issy is, in sporting terms, the major football club for the town of Issy-les-Moulineaux since F.C Issy-les-Moulineaux has a smaller number of members. It is fact the biggest sports club in the town of Issy-les-Moulineaux.

At the start of the 2008/2009 season, the club changed its name for a second time, from Association Sportive d’Origine Arménienne, to Association Sportive Ararat, so that A.S.O.A Issy became A.S.A Issy (or A.S Ararat Issy).

This is because, under the ownership of Franck Toutoundjian and Patrick Chêne, A.S.A Issy became associated with Groupe 365 (part of Groupe Sporever) under the control of sporting internet sites such as Football365.fr, to play an important role in the project of MyFootballClub.

Due to the role of strong personalities, the team continues to grow: Armand Zarpanelian, the club's founder, Sarkis Kasparian, former president, Michel Milosevic, Jean-Pierre Ortz, Vincent Yazmadjian, youth coach, Franck Toutoundjian, the current president, and many others.

The club have also been supported by André Santini, Mayor of Issy-les-Moulineaux, who has supported the club since its foundation.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Algeria GK Faouzi Amzal
2 France DF Erwan Barazer
3 Mali DF Mamadou Konaté
4 France DF Pierre Bellissens
5 United States DF Jérémie Dickenson
6 Senegal DF Abrahim Tounkara
7 Tunisia MF Henry Gbizie
8 France MF Valentin Charbonnier
9 France FW Grégory Lefort
10 France MF Valentin Charbonnier
11 France FW Grégory Lefort
12 Italy DF Andy Felsina
14 Morocco FW Anouar Fatmi
No. Position Player
15 France MF Laurent Mohellebi
17 France MF Anthony Fournier
18 Senegal FW Kévin Koumé
19 France MF Albin Brion
20 France FW Julien Potier
21 Armenia MF Julien Zenguinian
22 France GK Teddy Tortes
24 Cape Verde MF Steve Mendes
25 Italy DF Axel Verrechia
26 Mali MF Namadia Berete
28 France FW Yoann Condette
29 Mauritania MF Oumar Timbo

Honours

External links

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