Armenian striker Edgar Manucharyan joins Ajax
15 April: Edgar Manucharyan, gifted striker of
Armenian champions Pyunik Erevan FC, has committed to Ajax for
the next three seasons, as of 01 July 2005. The 18
year-old signed broke a metatarsal during his try-out in
Amsterdam in December 2004, but got a second chance and made
such a good impression on Ajax's technical staff that he got to
sign a three season deal at the Amsterdam ArenA today.
Edgar Manucharyan and Arie van
Eijden at the ArenA today. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Edgar Manucharyan (born 19 January 1987) finished the
Armenian football season as the topscorer (21 goals in 22
games) of champions Pyunik, before flying to Amsterdam on a
try-out in December of 2004. Manucharyan made a good impression
and got to make his unofficial Ajax-1 début in the 14
December friendly against
FC Barcelona in Elche, Spain. It would turn out to be
a bizarre evening for the Armenian teenager: after only 13
minutes he had to be carried off with what turned out to be a
broken metatarsal in his right foot. The players was deeply
disappointed as he entered the dressing room, but was then told
that he had been voted 'Footballer of the Year' in his
fatherland of Armenia.
Manucharyan remained in Amsterdam until the winter break,
undergoing treatment from Ajax's medical staff. Ajax promised
him a second chance - and the fully recovered 'Manucharyan
candidate' (sorry, we just had to repeat the joke...)
got it in early April. He once again impressed the Ajax staff,
this time with a contract as the outcome.
"First of all, I want to thank the doctors and medical staff
of Ajax very much for all of their help," Manucharyan said
after penning his deal. "Also, I get along with well with the
coaches and the players on the team, so I already feel more or
less at home. I was also very well looked after by a guest
family, so I'm already getting used to Holland. I want to thank
them in particular, for everything they've done for me. Thanks
to their hospitality I've felt at home from the
start."
"I've followed Ajax ever since I was a little boy,"
Manucharyan added, "I will never forget the Champions League
final of 1995. Ajax proved that you can beat hard, defensive
football with pretty football. I followed the club even more
closely after that game. And now I'm signing at Ajax. It's
a dream. I hope I'll be able to bring something extra."
Manucharyan has had a meteoric career in Armenia. Only 18
years of age, he already played a full season as the
centre-forward of Pyunik Erevan, became the topscorer of the
league, a starter for the Armenian national team and was voted
'Footballer of the Year'. Manucharyan will join the first team
of the Amsterdammers in July, at the start of the preparation
campaign for the 2005-2006 season. (MP)
Source: Ajax.nl
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