On Sunday 12 April, Professor Mark Aleksandrovich Godik, the greatest theorist in the field of football and doctor of pedagogical sciences, has died at the age of 80.

For many years Godik worked with the Russian Football Union. In particular, from 1996 to 1998 Mark Aleksandrovich headed the Scientific Methodological Department of the main football organization of the country, and between 2003 and 2009 he worked as Deputy Director of the Sports Department and adviser to the President of the RFU.

The Russian Premier Liga expresses its deep and sincere condolences to Mark Alexandrovich's family and friends.