Managerial Career
After retiring from football as a player, Simonyan became a manager. He became the manager and head coach of Spartak Moscow in 1960. Under his leadership, Spartak came in seventh place at the 1960 Soviet Top League and in third place at the 1961 Soviet Top League. Simonyan lead Spartak to victory in the Top League for the first time as a manager and coach at the 1962 Soviet Top League. The following year, Simonyan and Spartak won the 1963 Soviet Cup and became finalists at the 1963 Soviet Top League. The team came in eighth place at the Top League in 1964 and 1965. After Simonyan and Spartak won the 1965 Soviet Cup, Simonyan stopped managing the club that year. He soon started managing Spartak again in 1967. Spartak made it to the Top League finals again in 1968 but did not win. The club won the 1969 Soviet Top League, their second Top League title with Simonyan as head coach and manager. Simonyan and Spartak won the 1971 Soviet Cup. Simonyan stopped managing Spartak for good in 1972. He had been head coach for a record 12 years.
Simonyan, an Armenian himself, began managing and coaching Armenian club FC Ararat Yerevan in 1973. He lead the club to victory at 1973 Soviet Top League, considered by many to be one of the greatest moments in Armenian football history. Ararat Yerevan won the 1973 Soviet Cup as well that year. Under Simonyan, the club won its first ever Soviet titles. Simonyan stopped leading the club in 1974. He came back to Ararat Yerevan in 1984 and stopped managing for good in 1985. Between coaching and managing on Spartak and Ararat, Simonyan lead the combined clubs to first place three times, second place twice and third place twice in the Soviet Top League, making him the fifth most successful Top League manager and coach of all time.
He also managed the USSR national football team and Chornomorets Odessa.
Read more about this topic: Nikita Simonyan
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