SIMON CUP

my, he worked as an athletics coach at Spartak sports complex. Since January 2014, he has worked at Banants FC as a manager and sports camp administrator. Simon Israyelyan also worked as a physical education teacher in "Hekiat" kindergarten. After getting the bad news about the start of the 44-day war, Simon was one of the first members of Urartu FC to rush to the front. Simon took the road to Artsakh on September 29. The army reserve lieutenant heroically fought against the relentless enemy until October 10. For a long time, there was no information about his location. The body of Simon Israyelyan was found only in December 2020 and was identified in February 2021. The entire staff of Urartu FC participated in the funeral ceremony. For his courage and bravery in defending the state border of the Artsakh Republic during the 44-day Artsakh war, Simon Israyelyan was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor by Decree N663-A, 2021 of President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan. Simon Israyelyan's birthday has become symbolic for the whole football club. On that day, employees of Urartu FC and football players of the youth teams visit Yerablur Military Pantheon and pay tribute to Simon Israyelyan. They also lay flowers at his bust located in Urartu FC training ground. It is worth mentioning that on September 7, 2021, the opening ceremony of statuary took place at the training ground of Urartu FC. Along with the sculptures of legendary football players Hovhannes Zanazanyan, and Arkadi Andriasyan, as well as the founder-director of the football school, Edvard Grigoryan, the bust of Simon Israyelyan, hero of the 44-day Artsakh war and a longtime employee of Urartu FC, was also installed. In the May of 2022 took part the first International Youth Memorial Tournament named after Simon, which will be an annual event from then on.