Legendary Footballer and Yerevan Ararat Coach Nikita Simonyan Has Died
Nikita Simonyan, the renowned Soviet footballer, coach, first vice-president of the Russian Football Union, and the top scorer of Moscow’s “Spartak,” has passed away at the age of 99. The information was announced by Alexander Mirzoyan, President of the Russian Football Veterans Union.
According to Mirzoyan, Simonyan’s health sharply deteriorated on November 20, after which he was hospitalized.
Nikita Simonyan also played a vital role in the history of Armenian football.
From 1973 to 1974, he coached Yerevan’s “Ararat,” leading the team to become USSR Champion and Cup winner. The team’s golden era history was written during his tenure. Simonyan returned to “Ararat” again in 1984-1985.
At Moscow’s “Spartak,” Simonyan became the club’s all-time top scorer, netting 160 goals. In the USSR national championships, he set a remarkable record of 133 goals, which remains the best result in the history of the championship.
During his playing career, Simonyan participated in 285 matches and scored 145 goals. He was a four-time USSR Champion as a player and a two-time champion as a head coach.
His football and coaching career were highly praised at the state level as well.
In 2011, he was awarded the Order of Honour, and in 2013, he received the 1st degree Medal “For Services to the Fatherland” for his significant contribution to the development of Armenian football.