FC Noah: The Armenian team who Chelsea play named after biblical character with Figo links

Armenian Premier League side FC Noah are preparing to welcome Chelsea to the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan on Thursday for a pre-season friendly.

The match will be a huge occasion for the Armenian champions, who are named after the biblical character Noah, who built an ark to save his family and the animals from a great flood.

FC Noah were founded in 2017 and have quickly established themselves as one of the top teams in Armenia, winning the league title in 2021 and 2022.

The club is owned by the Noah Foundation, a charitable organization founded by Armenian-Russian businessman Karen Vartanyan.

Vartanyan is a close friend of former Portugal and Real Madrid star Luis Figo, who has been involved with FC Noah since its inception.

Figo has helped to raise the club's profile and has brought in several high-profile players, including former Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra.

FC Noah are now one of the most popular clubs in Armenia and have a passionate fan base.

The club's stadium, the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, has a capacity of 14,403 and is expected to be sold out for the match against Chelsea.

FC Noah will be hoping to make a good impression on Chelsea and their fans, and they will be looking to give the English giants a run for their money.