Croatian Coach Sandro Perković Sacked by Noah Despite Only One Loss in 26 Matches
Sandro Perković has left Armenian club Noah despite an impressive run of just one defeat in his last 26 games and a perfect start to the new season.
Sandro Perković has left Armenian club Noah despite an impressive run of just one defeat in his last 26 games and a perfect start to the new season.
Croatian coach Sandro Perković is no longer the manager of Armenian side Noah, as confirmed by numerous media outlets. The former Dinamo strategist was dismissed despite exceptionally successful work at the club, with the deciding factor being elimination from the Conference League qualifiers by Swiss side Sion.
Perković led Noah in a total of 56 matches, recording 30 wins, 16 draws, and only ten losses. Particularly impressive was his final run at the club: in the last 26 matches, Noah suffered just one defeat-and it was precisely that one that cost him his job.
Swiss side Sion won the return leg 2-1, after the first match had ended 2-2, eliminating Noah from Europe. That defeat was the only one Perković's side suffered in their last 26 encounters, and according to information from Germanijak, it was this failure that sealed the Croatian coach's fate.
How unusual the club's decision is best illustrated by the moment Perković was let go. In his final appearance on the Noah bench, he led the team against Alashkert and celebrated a 1-0 victory, with the only goal coming from Marko Lazetić in the 59th minute. That was his third win in three rounds of the Armenian league, meaning Noah began the new season with a flawless record.
Noah thus drew level on points with league leaders Ararat-Armenia, and Perković left a team that had not dropped a single point in the domestic championship. His contract ran until the summer of 2027, and just a few months ago, Sportske novosti reported that he was expected to stay at the club for at least another season. Additionally, his very good relationship with the club's owners and his satisfaction with life and work in Armenia were highlighted.
Last season, Perković achieved a major result with the Armenian club. Noah reached the play-off round for the Conference League round of 16 but was stopped there by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. On their European journey, they recorded wins against Rijeka and Legia, and also knocked out Ljubljana's Olimpija with two victories.
For a club founded only in 2017, this was the greatest European success in their history, with Noah reaching the knockout stages of a European competition for the first time. Already in his first season, Perković won two domestic trophies with Noah. During his tenure, the club also invested in infrastructure, opening a new football camp with an academy, and the project includes a new stadium, which Armenian media presented as the realization of a "national dream."
After the last victory, Perković spoke about how proud he was of his team, especially given how they reacted after the disappointment against Sion. His public appearance at that time gave no hint that the match against Alashkert could be his last on the bench.
Meanwhile, Dinamo officially confirmed the departure of another player. Gabriel Vidović is no longer a player of the Zagreb club, as announced on GNK Dinamo's official Twitter profile. Vidović left Maksimir and returns to the Bundesliga, where he will play for Paderborn.
"Dear Vida, thank you for everything and good luck in your new challenges! 💙", Dinamo said.
