Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, expressed his deep condolences on the passing of the renowned football player and coach Nikita Simonyan, who passed away on November 23 at the age of 100. The corresponding telegram was posted on the official Kremlin website.
The head of state emphasized that Simonyan was "an extraordinary, bright personality, immensely devoted" to football, calling him "a true legend of both domestic and world football." Putin noted that Simonyan's skill, strength of spirit, and dedication to the team were highly valued by both his teammates from "Spartak" and his colleagues from the USSR national team, as well as respected by opponents and loved by millions of fans.
Nikita Simonyan is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Soviet football, a holder of numerous titles and a long-time vice-president of the Russian Football Union, who became a symbol of domestic sports. His contribution to Russian football will be forever cherished.
