Russian Cup matches to begin with a minute of applause in memory of Nikita Simonyan

Russian Cup matches taking place on October 13–15 will begin with a minute of applause in memory of Olympic champion Nikita Simonyan, the press service of the Russian Football Union (RFU) told RIA Novosti.

October 12 marked 100 years since Simonyan’s birth. The fourth round of the RPL path and the fifth round of the regions path will be dedicated to his memory.

“Players and coaches of the 32 teams will take the field in special shirts bearing the symbolic number 100 and references to Nikita Simonyan’s many sporting achievements. Together with fans, the match participants will pay tribute to the legendary footballer, coach and football official with a minute of applause. People at the stadium, in front of TV screens and online will see unique archive footage of Simonyan as a player and coach and hear his voice,” the RFU said.

Nikita Simonyan died on November 23, 2025, at the age of 99. He was a winner of the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, a four-time USSR champion and two-time USSR Cup winner, and the all-time top scorer of Moscow’s Spartak (160 goals). As a coach, he won the USSR championship three times and the USSR Cup four times, and he led the USSR national team. For more than 30 years he held leadership positions in domestic football, first at the USSR Football Federation and then at the RFU.