Russian football legend Nikita Simonyan turns 96

Congratulations from “MK”

Olympic champion of Melbourne, first vice-president of the Russian Football Union Nikita Pavlovich Simonyan celebrates his birthday.

Nikita Pavlovich Simonyan was born on October 12, 1926 in Armavir. He spent most of his football career at Spartak Moscow, becoming the top scorer in its history with 160 goals. With Spartak, Simonyan won a total of four championships and won two USSR Cups.

As part of the USSR national team, Nikita Pavlovich became the Olympic champion in 1956 in Melbourne. He also took part in the 1958 World Championship. In total, he played 20 matches for the USSR national team and scored 10 goals.

As a coach, Nikita Pavlovich became the champion of the USSR three times and won the Cup of the country four times. Twice led Spartak to the championship (1962, 1969) and three times to win the Cup (1963, 1965, 1971), together with Ararat he scored a golden double (1973).

After completing his football and coaching career, Nikita Pavlovich served as head of the USSR national team from 1986 to 1990. In 1990 he was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Football Federation. Since then, he has been invariably in charge of Russian football.

In December 1998, Simonyan was elected Vice President of the Russian Football Union, and then First Vice President. During this time, he was acting president of the RFU three times (in 2009-2010, in 2012 and 2015).

Despite his age, Nikita Pavlovich continues to take an active part in the football life of the country, daily passing on his wealth of experience to all of us and showing an example of true love and devotion to our favorite game.

For outstanding achievements in football, he was awarded the Orders of the IOC and FIFA, the Orders of Merit for the Fatherland, III and IV degrees, and the honorary title of Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation.

“Moskovsky Komsomolets” sincerely congratulates Nikita Pavlovich on his birthday and wishes him longevity, family happiness, good luck, good health and new victories!