Nikita Simonyan: 1926–2025

Simonyan played for Spartak from 1949 to 1959, winning four domestic titles and two cups, and remains the club’s record goalscorer with 162 goals for the Red and Whites.

Simonyan also excelled on the international stage, scoring ten goals in 20 caps for the Soviet Union and winning an Olympic gold medal in Melbourne in 1956. Simonyan was the last surviving member of that team and, before his death, had been the oldest living Olympic champion.

Nikita Simonyan (right) in action for the Soviet Union against Brazil during the 1958 World Cup AFP via Getty Images

After retiring as a player, Simonyan enjoyed a successful coaching career, winning two domestic championships with Spartak and another with Ararat Yerevan. Simonyan also coached the USSR between 1977 and 1979.

Simonyan remained closely involved with football after he finished coaching, serving as the first vice-president of the Russian Football Union from 1992.