40 year-old Sargis Hovsepyan, a defender with Armenia’s national football team with 132 games under his belt, left the pitch forever in style yesterday as Armenia beat Lithuania 4 to 2 at Yerevan’s Republic Stadium.

Hovsepyan was twenty when he started with the national team in 1992 and has experienced all the ups and downs of the squad.

The veteran player was on the pitch for only four minutes before being substituted, leaving to a thunderous round of applause from the fans.

During halftime, Armenian Football Federation President Ruben Hayrapetyan presented Hovsepyan with the keys to a new Toyota Prado.

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan awarded Hovsepyan with a gold medal.

Team coach Vardan Minasyan says the Hovsepyan will work for the club in as yet undisclosed capacity.

Photo by Avetis Ghazanchyan (uefa.com)