Mkhitaryan is Armenia's finest again

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been voted Armenia's player of the year for the third time in a row, and fourth overall.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder, who moved in the summer from FC Shakhtar Donetsk, finished first ahead of Yura Movsisyan and Aras Özbiliz, who both play for FC Spartak Moskva. Mkhitaryan was placed first by 41 of the 54-strong voting panel in the Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) poll, and the announcement of his victory was made in the Armenian language on the big screen by UEFA President Michel Platini.

As well as aiding Shakhtar to the third domestic double of his three years at the club in 2013, Mkhitaryan also became his national team’s all-time leading scorer, getting his 12th goal in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Italy to overtake Artur Petrosyan. He also helped Dortmund through the UEFA Champions League group stage in a tough section.

"It's really good that I was namedthe  best once again, yet Movsisyan and Özbiliz were worthy candidates for the award as well," Mkhitaryan said. "I'm desperate to help our country achieve even more. My successes would never come without the team. Football is a team sport, and I would like to thank all my team-mates."

Vardan Minasyan was named Armenia's best coach having left the national team after World Cup qualifying to return to club management, where he previously won the 2008 and 2009 league titles for FC Pyunik with Mkhitaryan in his squad. Under Minasyan, Armenia beat Denmark, Czech Republic and Bulgaria as well as earning a draw in Italy and rising to their highest ever FIFA World Ranking of 35.