Former Russia Coach Boris Ignatyev Dies at 85 in Moscow

On the night of January 27, former head coach of the Russia national team Boris Ignatyev passed away. He was 85 years old, according to Sport24. The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

In December 2024, Ignatyev was diagnosed with cancer. Doctors found a tumor in his stomach.

Boris Ignatyev was born on December 5, 1940 in Moscow. His father worked at an aircraft factory, and his mother was in the public catering system. He started playing football in the mid-1950s. Ignatyev is a product of Moscow«s Spartak, playing as a midfielder.

Over the years, he played for Izhevsk«s Zenit, Raketa, Volga, Makhachkala»s Dynamo, Meteor from Zhukovsky, and Ufa«s Stroitel. Ignatyev began coaching athletes in 1973. The USSR youth team under his leadership won the European Championship in 1988. In 1996, Ignatyev replaced Oleg Romantsev as the coach of the Russia national team. Under his guidance, the team played 20 games (winning eight, drawing eight, and losing four). His last place of work was Moscow»s Torpedo, where he served as vice-president from 2013 to 2018.

Boris Ignatyev held the title of Honored Coach of the RSFSR and was awarded the Order of Friendship.