Legendary Armenian footballer and coach Nikita Simonyan has passed away at the age of 99. The news of his death was announced by Alexander Mirzoyan, President of the Union of Football Veterans of Russia.
According to Mirzoyan, Simonyan felt unwell on November 20 and was hospitalized shortly afterward. “Today he passed away,” Mirzoyan told Match TV.
Simonyan, who celebrated his 99th birthday on October 12, was one of the most iconic figures in Soviet football history. A prolific striker and later a respected coach, he left an indelible mark on the sport.
As a player for Spartak Moscow, he became a four-time USSR champion, cementing his status as one of the club’s greatest legends. As Spartak’s head coach, he added two more Soviet championships to his achievements.
Simonyan also made a significant contribution to Armenian football. From 1973 to 1974, he coached Ararat Yerevan, leading the team to both the USSR Championship and the USSR Cup — a historic double that remains one of the club’s greatest accomplishments. He returned to Ararat for another coaching spell from 1984 to 1985.
