The founder of Nizhny Novgorod mini-football, Viktor Zaydenberg, has passed away.

      On April 19, 2026, at 18:41, Sports. Viktor Lazarievich Zaydenberg, a distinguished coach of Russia, passed away at the age of 77. This was reported by journalist Andrei Vovk on his Telegram channel.

      He was one of the pioneers of mini-football in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1988, at his initiative, the team "Soyuz" was created in the Kstovo district. Later, the team was renamed "Krona" and managed to reach the elite division of the Russian mini-football championship. The team spent three seasons in the top league.

      Later, Viktor Zaydenberg also made a name for himself in professional football. He worked with Kirov's "Dynamo," Dzerzhinsk's "Khimik," and FC "Nizhny Novgorod." In 2010, under his leadership, FC "Nizhny Novgorod" achieved the highest result in its history, finishing third in the first division of the Russian championship.

      Over the years, Zaydenberg held the positions of head coach and sports director of "Khimik," and was also the head coach and president of FC "Nizhny Novgorod." As a player, he represented Gorky's "Dynamo."

      In addition to his sports activities, he was involved in the political life of the region. In 2014, Viktor Zaydenberg ran for the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region from the "Civil Force" party, and in 2016, he was part of the general list of this party for the elections to the Legislative Assembly.

      The funeral will take place on Tuesday at the Bugrovsky cemetery. The editorial office of NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Viktor Lazarievich Zaydenberg.

      Earlier, Nizhny Novgorod said goodbye to the famous Nizhny Novgorod sports dance coach Tatiana Sivers. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.