Simonyan Nikita Pavlovich - a famous Soviet football player, who later became a coach and functionary. He is the first vice president of the RFU. During his life he managed to receive many awards, among which the order "For Merit to the Fatherland" stands out especially. Nikita Simonyan is the top scorer in the history of the Moscow Spartak.
A family
A football player was born on October 12, 1926. Place of birth is the city of Armavir. Nikita Simonyan had a small family: besides him, his mother, father and sister entered. Athlete's dad was born in western Armenia. There were many upheavals in his fate, the man survived the horrors of genocide. In the 30s of the last century he moved to Sukhumi. Here, the father of the future footballer began to sew inexpensive, comfortable shoes, for which he had a small salary. Nevertheless, Nikita Simonyan was always well-dressed and shod, and quite often received pocket money from his parents, which he spent on visiting the cinema. The boy’s favorite picture was the movie “Goalkeeper”.
Childhood
In general, the real name of the football player is Mkrtych, which he received in honor of his grandfather. However, friends in the courtyard more often called him Mikita or Mikishka, since during the games it was difficult to pronounce such an exotic name. Often Nikita Simonyan asked his father why he was awarded with such a complex name, to which dad replied that the name is beautiful and means the word “baptist”. However, the nickname received in childhood, for a long time attached to the famous striker and glorified him throughout the world.
Simonyan Nikita Pavlovich devoted a huge amount of time to playing football. Often with a friend they went to the cinema, where they watched the already mentioned film “Goalkeeper” several times. At that time, it was the only film about football. Although the picture was sometimes filled with absurd moments, the boys each time empathized with the heroes, and more and more imbued with this wonderful game.
First steps in sports
From childhood, Nikita Simonyan, a football player who received the title of master of sports, was fond of this game. Together with his comrades, he was the organizer of football matches. Often staged battles between streets or districts. The guys found a great field that was perfect for the game. True, it was located twelve kilometers from the house of the future coach of the “Ararat” team (Yerevan). I had to get to the site by freight trains. The guys played to exhaustion and returned home on foot. Often his father chastised Nikita for the fact that he constantly disappears on the site. Nevertheless, his attitude changed when several people on the street grabbed a man in his arms and started tossing up with shouts: “Here comes Simonyan Sr. - Nikita’s dad.” At that moment, Nikita Simonyan, whose biography is very saturated, earned a real yard authority.
War and love of music
The Great Patriotic War was not spared by Nikita either: heavy bombing, dead friends and relatives, long time in bomb shelters. Once his father was wounded - Pogos Mkrtychevich, who was often called Pavel Nikitich. However, even the war could not discourage Nikita's craving for her favorite pastime. In addition to football, Nikita Simonyan, whose family always supported him, began to get involved in music and even enrolled in a brass band. Together with the group, he participated in various demonstrations and spoke at school evenings. Often had to play at the funeral. Be that as it may, the music could not completely captivate Nikita, and the guy still preferred football.
Serious training
Once, Shota Lominadze, who was a famous player and played in the local Dynamo, came to the site where the guys were chasing the ball. Soon Lominadze became Nikita's main coach and he began regular classes. Gradually, the hobby transformed into a profession. However, the training was not tough, every football player could show himself. Mkrtich Pogosovich Simonyan (real name) proved himself to be a good striker and worked for hours on end. Very soon, he began to perform together with a youth club. Each game, the Soviet football player was focused on how to score the ball. Sometimes he managed to drive nine goals per goal. In 1944, Nikita and his comrades were honored to see the famous Soviet football players, since Dynamo (Moscow), the club "TsDKA" and so on began to arrive in Sukhumi.
First achievements
Every day Nikita improved his skills: entering the field, he gave all his best and showed an amazing game. Looking at famous players, a beginner football player remembered every movement, and then repeated in training. Very soon, the junior team, for which Nikita played, was able to win the championship of Abkhazia, and then Georgia. In the same period, Nikita Simonyan managed to play against Dynamo from Moscow.
"Wings of Soviets"
The end of 1945 was marked for Simonyan by the fact that Sukhumi visited the Moscow Wings of the Soviets. It was this team that year managed to become the champion of Moscow. Dynamo beat Muscovites twice, with all the goals scored by Nikita. The Wings leadership immediately invited Simonyan to move to the capital. However, the football player’s father was against the transition of his son, he believed that he should first get an education. Nevertheless, the love of football won and in 1946 the young man went to Moscow. The first three years he had to huddle in a closet on a chest. At that time, “Wings of the Soviets” were considered not so popular team, as, for example, “Spartak” (Moscow).
Player pressure
Nikita was to play the first game in Sukhumi against Dynamo Minsk. At the same moment, events took place in the Simonyan family that almost ended in tragedy. Arriving in Sukhumi, he found that a search was made in the apartment where the guy used to live. In addition, the footballer's father was taken into custody. The reason for the arrest is quite simple - the authorities wanted to see a talented striker in Dynamo (Tbilisi). Moreover, blackmail was organized at a very high level.
Nevertheless, the footballer did not succumb to pressure from the authorities and spent three seasons in Wings, during which he managed to distinguish himself nine times. However, in 1949, the team could not stay at the top of the standings and, taking last place, was disbanded. Coaches and players went to various Soviet clubs, and Simonyan had to go to Torpedo. By the way, the famous Ivan Likhachev personally invited him. At the same moment, Spartak (Moscow) became interested in the player, and Nikita himself had long dreamed of showing himself in such a famous club.
"Spartak Moscow)
In 1949, Simonyan, one might say, connected his whole life with the capital's team. Together with him, the club included many talented players who dreamed of victories. Already in the next season, the striker managed to set a new record for goals scored (35), which lasted until 1985.
At that time, information appeared that Vasily Stalin, who led the MVO Air Force team, became interested in talented young men. Players who were members of this club were given apartments, bonuses, and so on. However, Simonyan did not accept the flattering offer and remained at Spartak.
Olympics Gold
All players of the Spartak attack were also vividly in the USSR national team. It was these footballers who helped the team win gold medals at the 1956 Olympics, which was held in Melbourne. The famous match is connected with the final match. According to the rules of the time, those players who play in the last meeting receive gold medals. All four matches before this were attended by Eduard Streltsov, but Simonyan was announced for the final. After graduation, Nikita Pavlovich wanted to hand his medal to the young striker, but Streltsov refused.
As captain, Simonyan led the USSR national team to the 1958 World Cup match, which became a new stage in history for the domestic team. The national team proved to be excellent in the tournament, beating England and Austria. Only the Brazilian national team could stop the Soviet players.
Speeches at Spartak
Playing for the metropolitan team, Simonyan was able to achieve amazing results. Together with the team, he achieved the following results:
- won four championship titles;
- twice helped win the USSR Cup;
- repeatedly received silver and bronze medals;
- played twice in the final of the Cup of the country.
Several times with Spartak Simonyan traveled to other countries. During the time spent in the Moscow club, the striker participated in 233 matches and scored 133 goals, thus becoming the best scorer in the history of the club. Three times Simonyan managed to become an outstanding scorer of the USSR. In “Spartak” he was remembered as a fast striker, who could perfectly choose a position and work from any foot. Nikita Pavlovich became a model for many young players, showing respect for his opponents in every game.
In 1959, Spartak went to compete with the teams of Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Uruguay. Here the metropolitan team showed an excellent game, and stood out especially in the composition of Simonyan, who at that time was already in adulthood. Despite the enthusiastic exclamations of the media, Nikita Pavlovich has already decided to end his football career.
Coaching career
In the autumn of the same year, the leadership of Spartak invited Simonyan to take the place of head coach. The first season did not work out - Nikita Pavlovich could not keep the team even in the first six. Immediately, fans attacked him, who were unhappy with the results. In 1961, Muscovites took bronze medals, and a year later Simonyan won the first serious award in the status of a coach, having won the USSR championship.
Soon, talented young players began to replace the veteran players, who were subsequently raised by Simonyan. With a break, Nikita Pavlovich worked at Spartak for eleven years. He managed to take the USSR Champion twice, three times Muscovites lifted the Cup of the country over his head, and also reached the finals once. In addition, twice “Spartak” received silver and bronze medals of the championship.
"Ararat" (Yerevan)
In 1972, Simonyan accepted the offer from the best Armenian team. Great hopes were pinned on him. “Ararat” by that time was able to gather the best players of Armenia into its ranks.
Already in 1973, under the leadership of Nikita Pavlovich, “Ararat” reached the final of the USSR Cup, where Dynamo from Kiev became his opponent. The game was very intense, but the Yerevan team won, having won the title for the first time in history.
In addition to the cup, “Ararat” was set up for the national championship. All Armenia watched the results of the team. For the tour before the end of the season, the Yerevan club managed to take the championship title.
However, Simonyan didn’t have the next season: “Ararat” stopped at the fifth line, and pressure started from the fans. At that time, Nikita Simonyan received an offer from the USSR Sports Committee and accepted it.
USSR Sports Committee
Simonyan spent the next 16 years as a state trainer. It was with Simonyan that the USSR national team was able to win silver medals at the European Championships in 1988. Six years later, he became vice president of the Russian Football Union. He was at this post until May 2015.
Simonyan Nikita Pavlovich is still fond of music, often attends concerts of symphony orchestras. He reads a lot of historical and fiction, and in 1989 he released his own book. He enjoys watching high-quality domestic and foreign films, loves the theater very much. Currently, the famous football player and coach lives in Moscow.