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Sargis Hovsepyan

Armenia

Sargis Hovsepyan's career ©Getty Images

Clubs: Malatia Yerevan, FC Lori Kirovakan, FC Pyunik, FC Zenit St Petersburg, FC Torpedo-Metallurg, FC Pyunik

• A central defender, Hovsepyan made his debut for local side Malatia Yerevan as a teenager in 1990 but after just one season in the first team he joined Lori Kirovakan.

• Was already at the club that became Pyunik following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Won three league titles, the Armenian Cup and was twice voted Armenian player of the year while with the capital outfit.

• Moved to Zenit in 1998 and would make 153 appearances in a five-year stay which yielded the Russian Cup in 1999 and a third-place Premier-Liga finish two years later.

• A spell with Torpedo-Metallurg followed in 2003 but after only a handful of games he returned to Pyunik. In 2008, Hovsepyan was again recognised as Armenia's best player, while two years later he won his tenth league championship with the Yerevan club.

• Hovsepyan's long international career began in 1992 with a home friendly against Moldova. His first goal came from the penalty spot during a 2-1 victory in Kazakhstan on 2 June 2007, with his 100th cap being won 14 months later as Armenia lost 4-0 to Spain in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

• Speaking about his national-team service, Hovsepyan – a mainstay of Armenia's bid to reach UEFA EURO 2012 − said: "I never strived to set any record. My main goal was always to help the team perform well and try to win, but I'm glad I was lucky to reach 100 caps for the national team."

• Hovsepyan received a commemorative cap and medal from UEFA to mark his century of international appearances on 7 October, before taking to the field for Armenia's 4-1 victory against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in UEFA European Championship qualifying.

• "I'm really happy that I've played 124 matches for the national team," he said. "I would like to thank the coaches who believed in me and allowed me to play. When you pull on your national team shirt you feel real pride. Can you imagine how many times I've had this feeling?"