Super sweeper powers Armenia

Commanding central defender Sarkis Ovsepyan is much-acclaimed in his native Armenia because of his exploits for the national side and his club success in Russia.

Tactical awareness
Hard-working and determined, Ovsepyan has received rave notices for his tremendous discipline and tactical awareness which has won him the respect of team-mates and supporters.

Exceptional performances
With a collection of caps for his country that can only be rivalled by his team-mate Artur Petrosyan, Ovsepyan is one of the first names on the team-sheet for Armenia. He has proved his worth with a string of exceptional performances when the tiny former Soviet republic have managed to hold their own against more experienced international teams. His contribution as a sweeper against Norway, Belarus, Poland and Wales helped Armenia to hold on to valuable points in matches that they might have expected to lose.

A natural leader
Ovsepyan began his professional career in 1992 with FC Omentmen, who have since been renamed FC Pyunik, and although he did not make a dramatic impression in his first games in the Armenian top flight, many saw his good ball skills and heroic work-rate and noted him as a player for the future. The youngster quickly repaid his coach’s faith, gaining enough experience not only to lead only the club, but the national side as well.

Armenian honours
In 1992 he was named Armenian’s player of the year - a great honour for any Armenian footballer but perhaps even more surprising for a player who occupies an unglamorous defensive position. However, any doubts in Ovsepyan’s mind that it might have been a case of mistaken identity were removed in 1995 when he received the award again.

Forward to Russia
His performances in the Armenian Premier League quickly brought Ovsepyan to the attention of the major footballing scouts in central Europe and it came as no great surprise to Armenian supporters when the defender decided to move to the more competitive Russian Premier-Liga.

A giant at Zenit
Having settled with FC Zenit St. Petersburg, Ovsepyan calmly set about persuading the Russian public that his reputation in Armenia had been no joke. Employed largely as a right-sided defender at the Petrovsky stadium, Ovsepyan has been able to show a whole new side of his game, impressing supporters with his pace, creativity and ability to participate in attacking moves.

A star in St. Petersburg
Just as he did with FC Pyunik and the Armenian national side, Ovsepyan has become one of the acknowledged leaders of the Zenit side as well as perhaps the best known Armenian footballer in Russia.  Accorded an enormous amount of respect by his younger team-mates, Ovsepyan oozes natural authority and his steady style has been at the heart of Zenit’s recent revival.

Steady presence
In the 2001 season, Zenit finished third in the Russian Premier-Liga and supporters were hopeful that the once great club was about to regain the position as one of Russia’s biggest clubs that they had not enjoyed since Soviet times. Ovsepyan’s role in this miraculous revival should not be understated. If his steady presence can have the same effect on Armenia as it has had on Zenit, there could yet be a few surprises.