Homenetmen Beirut (football)

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Homenetmen
Homenetmen.png
Full nameHomenetmenen Beirut
Nickname(s)Homenetmenagan (The Orange Devils)
Founded1924; 97 years ago (1924)
GroundBourj Hammoud Stadium
Capacity8,000
ChairmanStephan Der Bedrossian
Head CoachHassan Mashour Mido
LeagueLebanese Third Division Group A
2020–21Lebanese Third Division Group A, 7th of 7 (relegated)
Active departments of Homenetmen Beirut
Football pictogram.svgBasketball pictogram.svg
FootballBasketball

Homenetmen Beirut (Arabic: نادي الهومنتمن بيروت‎; Armenian: Հայ Մարմնակրթական Ընդհանուր Միութիւն (ՀՄԸՄ), lit. 'Armenian General Union of Body Culture'), or simply Homenetmen, is a football club based in Beirut, Lebanon, that competes in the Lebanese Third Division Group A. It is the association football branch of the larger Lebanese-Armenian multi-sports and scouting organization of the same name.

Homenetmen Beirut was established in 1924, just six years after establishment of Homenetmen in Constantinople. The club has won seven Lebanese Premier League and three Lebanese FA Cup titles. They have also participated in the Asian Champion Club Tournament in 1970, finishing in third place.

History[]

Vartan Ghazarian years (1993–2004)[]

Wartan Ghazarian arrived from Armenia at age 20 as a foreign player, quickly adapted the culture the fans loved him and became as a cult hero, scoring unbelievable goals long range, header, left foot, right foot he took the league by storm the club would finish 3rd. The following season Homentmen would finish seventh after a poor start of the season. During this period Homenetmen never won a championship but had amazing games against Ansar, Nejmeh and Homenmen, beating them in a 7-1 match. In the late 1990s the club started to play poorly and started to sell some of the best players as at the time the club was struggling financially, but every year the club would survive on the final day. In the year 2001 the club would finish with 2 wins out of 22 matches and it was their worst season, but the Lebanese football federation withheld the season due to match fixing scandals.

In the 2000–01 season, the Homenetmen FC would be relegated for the first time in the club's history, Homenetmen would loan out some of its star players. The team would finish first in the Lebanese Second Division without losing a single match and with one draw in the final day, the club would be back in the following season but would be relegated again with their Armenian rivals.

2013–present[]

In April 2013, after the club beat its rival Homenemen 2–1 and guaranteeing it the play-off spot in the Lebanese Third Division, they have qualified to the Lebanese Second Division for the first time in seven years. After an unbelievable campaign in the Lebanese Second Division, the club only missed out by one point to qualify in the Lebanese First Division, the season was unforgettable with some famous victory's over Sagesse. In 2018, the club was relegated to the Lebanese Third Division after seven years in the Second Division.

In June 2021, Homenetmen were relegated to the Lebanese Fourth Division.[1]

Crest and colours[]

Since its foundation, the traditional colour of Homenetmen's home kit is orange with blue stripes and designs vary over the years. Therefore, the club is nicknamed The Orange Devils by the fans. The away kit may vary between a full blue kit and a white kit with red stripes on the shirt.

Grounds[]

Homenetmen Beirut FC original home ground since the early 1950s was the Bourj Hammoud Municipal Stadium which is considered one of the most oldest stadiums in Lebanon. The stadium can host around 10,500 spectators. Bourj Hammoud Municipal Stadium is still used as an alternative venue.

The training ground of Homenetmen Beirut is located in Bourj Hammoud next to the Bourj Hammoud Municipality Stadium. The complex holds a capacity of 100 spectators, and there is a nearby indoor training pitch and many other small pitches. There are also basketball courts, and a restaurant.

Support[]

Homenetmen Beirut is one of the best supported clubs in Lebanon, with one of the highest average home attendance in Lebanon.

Rivalries[]

Homenetmen (blue) against Homenmen (red) in the 2020–21 Lebanese Third Division

Homenetmen Beirut longest-established rivalry is with fellow Armenian team Homenmen Beirut, against whom the club contest the Armenian derby. The rivalry between Homenetmen and Homenmen is political. The Armenian derby is usually sold out. Since the mid-1960s, '70s, '90s the rivalry has intensified both on and off the field.

Youth academy[]

Homenetmen Beirut run their own youth training academy in Bourj Hammoud. Many of the Homenetmen Beirut current players are graduates of the club's academy including Harout Sarkis, Mamas Kehyeyan, Kevork Koumashian, Alec Aldjian, Hagop Nadjarian, Johnny Kondjian, Harout Moumdjoghlian, Diko Vartan, Hagop Donabedian, Andrew Azzi, Serj Oskian,

Honours[]

Asian record[]

  • Asian Champion Club Tournament: 1 appearance
1970: 3rd place

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "هبوط جديد لهومنتمن بيروت". كووورة. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.

External links[]

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