Legendary footballer Nikita Simonyan has been awarded a first-degree Order for “Services to the Motherland.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan handed the award at a ceremony in Moscow.
“For me, it’s a great honor to hand this award. I was born in 1975, and as long as I remember myself, I have been hearing discussions about Ararat -73 and Nikita Simonyan,” Pashinyan said.
“This name has been accompanying me throughout my childhood, and I am honored for this opportunity to meet you today,” the Prime Minister said.
Born in 1926, Nikita Simonyan is the current vice president of the Russian Football Union, and one of the most noteworthy figures in Russian and Soviet football.
Simonyan began managing and coaching Armenian club FC Ararat Yerevan in 1973. He led the club to victory at 1973 Soviet Top League. That year Ararat Yerevan also won the 1973 Soviet Cup.