Grassroots Hero: Daniel Hakobyan
Changing lives through football-this is the life motto of Daniel Hakobyan, a certified coach and a Grassroots hero who dedicated his career to coaching children with physical and intellectual disabilities. He is a coach, who advocates for accessibility and inclusion in football and who encourages his players to see football as a platform for health and involvement.
Love, enthusiasm and devotion are the features that help Daniel lead disability football teams with more than 40 players.
Daniel Hakobyan graduated from the State Institute of Physical Culture and Sport with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education and sport training. Now he is doing his adaptive physical education course.
Besides, Daniel is working as PE teacher in Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex. Being also a volunteer for Special Olympics activities, Daniel is actively involved in community outreach to raise awareness about disability sports.
In cooperation with the Grassroots & Amateur football unit of the Armenian FF, Daniel Hakobyan helps to develop tailored training sessions that focus on teamwork, confidence and social connection.
Daniel committed himself to creating an inclusive environment where every player can thrive. His mission is to empower disabled players through football, helping them build confidence, physical fitness and sense of belonging. He believes that football is not just a game but a powerful tool for social inclusion, personal development and breaking down barriers.
Daniel’s contribution to disability football promotion:
- Collaborates with FFA and football clubs to increase access to facilities and resources for disabled children
- Designs adaptive training programs tailored to the needs of players
- Fosters a team environment and culture that values teamwork and respect
- Advocates for awareness and acceptance of disability football in the country
Daniel’s impact on football development:
- Many of players have gained improved physical and mental health
- Families/parents reported greater social connection and positive feedback
- Some players have progressed on raising awareness and recognition on a higher level
Daniel instilled a love of football in his players. His team was invited to escort the 2026 European Qualifiers home matches Armenia vs Portugal and Armenia vs Republic of Ireland. The entire football family witnessed the magical story of mascot Ruben who escorted Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the beginning of the match Armenia vs Portugal. Here is the story of Ruben and his moment:
Ruben is a boy with hearing impairments who plays adaptive football in Daniel Hakobyan’s team. During the recent European Qualifiers match Ruben had the honor of being one of the children escorting players onto the pitch before kickoff.
Ruben was very excited and happy to meet Ronaldo; he shared a moment with him. Ronaldo later posted a video on Instagram saying, “I made a new friend yesterday”.
The video and story moved many people. It went viral, receiving millions of views and many messages from people who said they were deeply touched.
This disability team activity and its participation in mainstream events highlighted the role of a dedicated coach in teambuilding and showed how football can embrace diversity.
