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Soccer: Team-mates praise 'eternal leader' Hovsepyan

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  • Soccer: Team-mates praise 'eternal leader' Hovsepyan

    UEFA.com
    Oct 14 2012


    Team-mates praise 'eternal leader' Hovsepyan

    Published: Sunday 14 October 2012, 14.50CET

    Armenia duo Henrik Mkhitaryan and Roman Berezovski spoke to UEFA.com
    to express their admiration for Sargis Hovsepyan after the defender
    recently won the last of his 131 caps.

    This is a brave new era for Armenia as the national team grapples with
    life after Sargis Hovsepyan, the side's captain and ever-present
    figurehead who called time on his professional career aged 39 last
    month.

    Modest and unassuming, Armenia's most-capped player made 131
    appearances for his country. His final outing came in September's 1-0
    loss to Bulgaria in FIFA World Cup qualifying, and he was typically
    understated about his career as he stepped away from the limelight. "I
    don't think I'm a legend," he said. "I simply did my job."

    After making his debut in Armenia's first international against
    Moldova in 1992, and establishing himself among the favourites at FC
    Pyunik and FC Zenit St Petersburg, the central defender was a key
    figure in some of the national team's proudest moments.

    "There were periods when no one believed in our national team,"
    goalkeeper Roman Berezovski told UEFA.com, having first played
    alongside Hovsepyan for Armenia in 1996. "People believe in us now and
    have great expectations. Everyone has high expectations."

    Those raised expectations are a testament to Hovsepyan's career,
    influence and legacy, and Henrik Mkhitaryan holds his retired skipper
    in similarly high regard. For the exciting young FC Shakhtar Donetsk
    schemer, Hovsepyan remains nothing short of Armenia's "eternal
    leader".

    Watch the full interviews in the video box above.

    http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1874076.html

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