Dmitry Gunko appointed Pyunik head coach

Russian football coach Dmitry Gunko, who previously managed Armenian clubs Noah, Ararat-Armenia and Urartu, has been appointed as Pyunik’s new head coach.

“We are pleased to announce that Russian coach Dmitry Gunko has been appointed as Pyunik’s new head coach,” the Armenian football club said in a statement.

As a player, Gunko represented Spartak-2 Moscow, Tyumen, Spartak-Chukotka, Arsenal Tula and Torpedo Vladimir.

“After ending his playing career, he spent many years working within the Spartak Moscow system, coaching the club’s youth team, which became champions of the Russian Youth Championship twice under Gunko’s leadership,” the club said.

In March 2014, after Valery Karpin's departure, Dmitry Gunko was appointed interim head coach of Spartak Moscow and remained at the helm of Russia's most decorated team until the end of the season. During that period, Armenia national team players Aras Özbiliz and Yura Movsisyan were also playing for Spartak.

In August 2020, the Russian coach took charge of FC Khimki, but left the position shortly afterwards.

Dmitry Gunko then continued his coaching career with Armenian clubs and achieved the most notable successes of his coaching career during his time in Armenia.

In November 2020, Gunko was appointed head coach of Noah and led the team to a second-place finish in the Armenian Premier League in the same season.

The following season, he took charge of Ararat-Armenia and once again finished as runner-up in the Armenian Premier League, this time in the 2021/22 season, with Ararat-Armenia finishing one point behind Pyunik, who were crowned champions.

In June 2022, Gunko was appointed head coach of Urartu, and in the 2022/23 season, he led the team to a domestic double, winning both the Armenian Premier League and the Armenian Cup.

Following that season, he was also named the Armenian Premier League’s Best Coach.

In June 2025, after three years at the club, Gunko left Urartu. In total, under his leadership, Urartu played 119 matches, recording 66 wins, 22 draws and 31 defeats.

Dmitry Gunko’s most recent club was Arsenal Tula, which he took charge of in June 2025. Under Gunko, the Gunners finished 13th in the previous Russian First League season. In September this year, the 50-year-old coach left his position as Arsenal Tula’s head coach.

Dmitry Gunko’s coaching staff will include Dmitry Kudryashov, Nikolay Tyunin and Igor Menshchikov. Assistant head coach Artur Avagyan and fitness coach Ciro Hosseini Varde'i will also continue their work with the team’s coaching staff.

“We wish Dmitry Gunko and his coaching staff productive work and continued success at our club,” FC Pyunik said.