Nikita P. Simonyan is one of Russia's greatest football legends, both as a player and a coach. A striker, in 1956 he won the Olympic Football Tournament with the then USSR team and a number of league titles as a manager with several clubs. For his achievements he was awarded with the FIFA Order of Merit  and the Olympic Order.

"It is a great honor for me to be among the Ambassadors of  Russia-2018/2022. I am absolutely positive that we can stage a great World Cup. We have excellent experience from the 1980 Olympics and FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2006 and many other competitions that Russia has hosted. I hope that Russia will play a host to the World Cup and I will be among the cheering crowds at our beautiful new stadia".