Merw FK

Merw Mary

Full name	Merw Mary Bedenterbiýe-Sport Futbol Kluby
Founded	1991;33 years ago (1991)
Ground	Mary Sport Toplumy
Capacity	10,000
Chairman	Gurbangeldi Orazow
Manager	Rahym Kurbanmammedow
League	Ýokary Liga
2024	Ýokary Liga, 5th of 9
Home colours Away colours

Physical culture and sports football club Merw Mary (Turkmen: Merw Mary Bedenterbiýe-Sport Futbol Kluby), also known as Merw Mary, is a professional football club based in Mary, Turkmenistan. They play in the national top division; the Ýokary Liga. Their home stadium is Mary Sport Toplumy.

Historical names

• until 1966 – Lokomotiv Mary
• 1967 – Murgab Mary
• 1968–1989 – Garagum Mary (Kara-Kum Mary)
• 1990-until now – Merw Mary

Current squad

As of 13 June 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   TKM Anton Maksimov 2 DF   TKM Shazada Bashimov 3 MF   TKM Shohrat Ovmadov 4 DF   TKM Ambyar Mahmudov 5 DF   TKM Rejep Rejepov 6 DF   TKM Azat Orazmuhammedov 7 FW   TKM Rustam Matrizaev 8 FW   TKM Yagshyhaset Dovletgeldiyev 9 DF   TKM Maksat Atagarryyev 10 MF   TKM Kemal Annamuhammedov 12 DF   TKM Doviet Dovietmyradov 13 MF   TKM Igor Sekov 14 MF   TKM Dayanch Durdyyev

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 GK   TKM Nurgeldy Astanov 17 MF   TKM Musa Nurnazarov 18 MF   TKM Babanyyaz Charyyev 19 MF   TKM Amangeldi Saparov 20 DF   TKM Begench Palvanov 21 MF   TKM Myrat Ovezmyradov 30 GK   TKM Merdan Saparov 77 FW   TKM Toyly Gocnazarow 90 FW   TKM Murad Yaksiyew

History

In 1967–1969 and 1990–1991, the team played in the Soviet Second League.

The first big success of Merw FK after the collapse of the USSR came when they reached the final of the Turkmenistan Cup in 1993. In the final, they lost to Köpetdag Aşgabat with a score of 0:4. A year later, the team were the bronze prize-winner of the 1994 Ýokary Liga and took part in the preliminary round of the Asian Cup Winners' Cup 1994/95 season. The next 10 years were not marked by significant progress, but in 2004 Merw FK became one of the strongest football clubs in Turkmenistan. Merw FK claimed the bronze medal for the second time in the 2004 Ýokary Liga and, in 2005, they won the Cup of Turkmenistan. Their opponents in the Turkmenistan Cup final was Köpetdag Aşgabat (the game finished 1–1 after extra time and Merw FK won 3–1 on penalties). In 2006, the team, for the second time, entered the international arena by taking part in the 2006 AFC Cup and lost to the teams Dempo SC (2:2, 1:6) and Al-Nasr (0:2, 1:4). ^{[1] [2]}

Between 2007 and 2009, Merw FK played in the finals of the Turkmenistan Cup three times in a row. They lost to Şagadam FK in 2007 (0:1), won in 2008 by beating FC HTTU (2:1) and lost in 2009 to FC Altyn Asyr (0:3). In 2008, Merw FK won the Turkmenistan Super Cup by beating the champion of Turkmenistan FC Ashgabat. In 2009, for the third time in their history, Merw FK won the bronze medal in the 2009 Ýokary Liga.

In 2012, the club became the silver prize-winner of the 2012 Ýokary Liga for the first time in history. ^[3]

In the 2022 season, Magtymguly Begenjew as head coach led the team to the third place in Ýokary Liga, ^{[4] [5]} securing a AFC Cup spot for the Merw FK after a 16-year ^[6] absence.

Honours

League and cup record

Season	League									Turkmenistan Cup	Top goalscorer		Manager
	Div.	Pos.	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts		Name	League goals
2015	1st	8th	36	11	9	16	39	50	42	Round of 16			Rahmanguly Baýlyýew
2016		5th	36	17	6	13	42	36	57
2017		8th	32	10	3	19	34	61	33
2022		3th	28	14	4	10	44	39	46	Quarterfinals	Alibek Abdyrahmanow	21 [7]	Magtymguly Begenjew

• Ýokary Liga
  • Runners-up: 2012
• Turkmenistan Cup: 2
  • Winners: 2005, 2008
  • Runners-up: 1993, 2007, 2009
• Turkmenistan Super Cup: 1
  • Winners: 2008
  • Runners-up: 2005

Performance in AFC competitions

• AFC Cup: 2 appearances

2006: Group Stage

2023–24: Group Stage

• Asian Cup Winners Cup: 1 appearance

1994–95: Preliminary Round

Managers

• Murad Bayramow (2005–06)
• Merdan Nursahatow (2006–2008)
• Magtymguly Begenjew (2008–2010)
• Rahim Kurbanmamedov (2011–2012)
• Rahmanguly Baýlyýew (2015–2018)
• Mekan Nasyrow (2019)
• Magtymguly Begenjew (2020–2021)
• Rahim Kurbanmamedov (2021 ^[8] –)
• Magtymguly Begenjew (2022–present)

Backroom Staff

Name	Role
Rahym Kurbanmammedow	Manager
Witaliy Alikperow	Assistant Manager
Magtymguly Begenjew	Fitness Trainer
Ovez Annamammedow	Goalkeeping Trainer
Wladimir Caryyew	Offensive Trainer
Dowlet Muhammetow	Defensive Trainer
Mukam Durdyyew	Medic

References

1. правды», Комсомольская правда | Сайт «Комсомольской (16 July 2012). "В Твери на стадионе "Химик" состоится международный матч". KP.RU - сайт «Комсомольской правды». Retrieved 28 June 2019.
2. "Футбольный Клуб "Волга"". Archived from the original on 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
3. "Золотой век". turkmenistan.gov.tm. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
4. «Мерв» в четвёртый раз стал бронзовым призером чемпионата Туркменистана по футболу
5. ""Мерв" завоевал бронзу чемпионата Туркменистана и право выступить в Кубке АФК". 23 December 2022.
6. "Определились все участники клубных турниров АФК от Туркменистана в сезоне-2023/2024 | Спорт".
7. "В Туркменистане подвели итоги футбольного сезона 2022 года". 4 January 2023.
8. ""Ахал" увеличивает отрыв от преследователей в чемпионате Туркменистана по футболу". 9 November 2021.

External links

• football for the Peoples. Turkmenistan