Stepan Atayan (Russian: Степан Атаян; born 13 July 1966) is a retired Uzbek international football player who played as a midfielder and was awarded in 1993 as one of the three Best Footballers of the Year. He is currently a veteran at Proodeftiki in Greece.

Stepan Atayan
Personal information
Date of birth (1966-07-13) 13 July 1966 (age 57)
Place of birth Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1976–1984 Neftchi Baku PFK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1991 Köpetdag Aşgabat 93 (6)
1991 Sogdiana Jizzakh 8 (0)
1992 Temiryulchi Qoqon 25 (3)
1993–1997 Neftchi Farg'ona 93 (30)
1997–1999 Proodeftiki F.C.
1999–2000 Chalkidona F.C. 7 (1)
2000–2001 Atromitos F.C. 8 (0)
International career
1995–1996 Uzbekistan 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

Atayan began playing football in the Soviet Second League with Neftchi Baku PFK and Köpetdag Aşgabat. He joined Uzbek League side Neftchi Farg'ona in 1991. Atayan left Uzbekistan and moved to Greece in 1995. He continued his career with Proodeftiki, playing 4 seasons in the Greek Super League for the club.[1] He joined Chalkidona F.C. in 1999, where he won 2 cups. He finished his football career in Atromitos F.C. in 2001.

International edit

He was on the Uzbekistani squad at the 1994 Asian Games[2] and made his full debut for Uzbekistan on 18 July 1995 at Merdeka Cup against Hungary won 3:2 by Hungary. Atayan made 9 appearances for the Uzbekistan national football team, including three appearances at the 1996 AFC Asian Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates.[3]

Coaching career edit

After finishing his football career, Atayan continued with a coaching career. He possesses both the AFC coaching diploma and the UEFA category B coaching license diploma in Greece. He began coaching professionally youth football academy U13, U15, U17, U19. Afterwards, he coached in various football teams including Copa Renti SC owned by Nikos Karoulias in 2001–2004, Fostiras F.C. in 2004–2005, Kallithea F.C. B League in 2011–2012, Proodeftiki in 2012–2013.

Personal life edit

He got married in 1988, had a daughter (Diana) in 1990 and a son (Arsen) in 1994.

Honours edit

Club edit

Neftchi Farg'ona

Individual edit

References edit

  1. ^ Mastrogiannopolis, Alexander (26 April 2003). "Greece 1998/99". RSSSF. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009.
  2. ^ "Asian Games 1994 (Hiroshima, Japan)". RSSSF. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. ^ Stokkermans, Karel (15 December 2006). "Asian Nations Cup 1996 Details – Extended File". RSSSF.

External links edit