# FC Taraz

> association football club in Kazakhstan

**Wikidata**: [Q1042829](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1042829)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Taraz)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fc-taraz

## Summary
FC Taraz is an association football club based in Taraz, Kazakhstan, founded in 1961. The club competes in the Kazakhstan football league system, currently playing in the Kazakhstan First League as of 2023, and plays its home matches at Taraz Central Stadium.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type**: Association football club.
- **Location**: Headquartered in Taraz, Kazakhstan.
- **Inception**: Founded in 1961.
- **Home Venue**: Taraz Central Stadium.
- **Current League**: Kazakhstan First League (as of 2023).
- **Former League**: Kazakhstan Premier League (2019–2022).
- **Official Website**: http://www.fctaraz.kz/
- **Social Media**: Twitter handle @TarazFC (joined November 16, 2011).
- **Historical Names/Aliases**: FC Khimik Dzhambul, Fosfor Taraz, FC Fosfor Zhambyl, FC Taraz, 塔拉茲, Металлист (Metallist), Химик (Khimik), Энергетик (Energetik), Восход (Voskhod), Алатау (Alatau).
- **Current Head Coach**: Nurmat Mirzabaev (appointed October 21, 2022).
- **Identifiers**: Transfermarkt Team ID 22994; Playmakerstats.com Team ID 1836; Footballdatabase.eu Team ID 1543; Scorebar/Soccerway Team ID 1362; National Football Teams.com Club ID 2884; Freebase ID /m/06_xvf.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: Article available in 30+ languages including English, Russian, Kazakh, Chinese, and Arabic.

## FAQs
**What is the historical timeline of head coaches for FC Taraz?**
The club has employed several head coaches, including Ljupko Petrović (2011–2013), Vait Talgayev (2017–2018), Vladimir Nikitenko (2020), Vardan Minasyan (2021), Nurken Mazbaev (Jan–Oct 2022), and the current coach Nurmat Mirzabaev, who started on October 21, 2022.

**What names has the club been known by?**
Historically, the club has been known by multiple names, including FC Khimik Dzhambul, Fosfor Taraz, FC Fosfor Zhambyl, Metallist, Khimik, Energetik, Voskhod, and Alatau.

**Where does FC Taraz play its home matches?**
The team plays its home fixtures at Taraz Central Stadium, located in the city of Taraz, Kazakhstan.

## Why It Matters
FC Taraz serves as a prominent representative of the city of Taraz in the national football landscape of Kazakhstan. With a history dating back to 1961, the club has navigated various eras of Kazakhstani football, competing in the top-tier Kazakhstan Premier League as recently as 2022 before moving to the First League in 2023. The club's longevity and continued presence provide a platform for local athletic development and community engagement in the Jambyl Region.

## Notable For
- Being one of the older active football clubs in Kazakhstan, established in 1961.
- A diverse naming history reflecting industrial and regional shifts (e.g., "Khimik," "Energetik," "Fosfor").
- Maintaining a digital presence with an official website and a Twitter account dating back to 2011.
- Having a Wikipedia presence in over 30 languages, indicating broad international recognition.
- Competing in the Kazakhstan Premier League for a sustained period (2019–2022) prior to its current First League status.

## Body

### Founding and Identity
FC Taraz is an association football club founded in 1961 and headquartered in Taraz, Kazakhstan. The club operates as a sports organization devoted to association football. It is identified in global databases with a Freebase ID of /m/06_xvf and is categorized under "Category:FC Taraz" on Wikimedia projects. The club's official description is "association football club in Kazakhstan."

### Competitive History
The club has a history of competing in the Kazakhstani football league system. Most recently, FC Taraz competed in the Kazakhstan Premier League starting in 2019 and continuing through the 2022 season. As of 2023, the club competes in the Kazakhstan First League.

### Home Venue
The club hosts its home matches at Taraz Central Stadium. This venue serves as the primary association football venue for the team's competitive fixtures.

### Coaching History
The management of FC Taraz has seen several changes over the last decade:
- **Ljupko Petrović**: Served from November 1, 2011, to May 14, 2013.
- **Vait Talgayev**: Managed from January 4, 2017, to May 3, 2018.
- **Vladimir Nikitenko**: Held the position from January 16, 2020, to December 26, 2020.
- **Vardan Minasyan**: Coached from February 3, 2021, to October 26, 2021.
- **Nurken Mazbaev**: Served a short tenure from January 13, 2022, to October 21, 2022.
- **Nurmat Mirzabaev**: Appointed as head coach on October 21, 2022, and is the current preferred officeholder.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
Throughout its history, the club has been identified by various names in different languages and contexts. These include FC Khimik Dzhambul, Fosfor Taraz, FC Fosfor Zhambyl, and the Chinese name 塔拉茲. Other historical names include Metallist, Khimik, Energetik, Voskhod, and Alatau.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
FC Taraz maintains an online presence through its official website (fctaraz.kz) and a Twitter account (@TarazFC), which had 638 followers as of April 27, 2020. The club is tracked by multiple sports databases, including:
- **Transfermarkt**: Team ID 22994.
- **Playmakerstats.com**: Team ID 1836.
- **Footballdatabase.eu**: Team ID 1543.
- **Scorebar/Soccerway**: Team ID 1362.
- **National Football Teams.com**: Club ID 2884.
- **Worldfootball.net**: Team ID fk-taraz (old).

### Geographic and National Context
The club is situated in Kazakhstan, a sovereign state in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Kazakhstan, which gained independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, has a population of over 20 million and uses the Kazakhstani tenge as its currency. The club's location in Taraz places it within a nation that is a member of international organizations such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.transfermarkt.com/fk-taraz/mitarbeiterhistorie/verein/22994)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013