FC Gagra
Full nameFootball Club Gagra
Founded2004 (2004)
GroundDavid Petriashvili Arena,
Tbilisi, Georgia
Capacity1,000
PresidentBesik Chikhradze
ManagerGiorgi Oniani
LeagueErovnuli Liga
20237th of 10

FC Gagra (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი გაგრა) is a Georgian football club, which competes in Erovnuli Liga, the first tier of the Georgian league system.

The club has its origins in Gagra, Abkhazia. It was founded in Tbilisi by former player and coach Goderdzi Chikhradze and his cousin in 2004 with a plan to move the club to Gagra in the end,[1] but due to the enduring Russian occupation the team plays its home games in Tbilisi.

FC Gagra is the only non-top flight Georgian team, which has twice won the national Cup.

History

First years, 2004–2010

Gagra players in 2010

The new club was formed as FC Gagra in 2004 in Regionuli Liga, where they won promotion to Pirveli Liga. After winning their second-tier division, Gagra lost the promotion play-off in 2005–06 and 2006–07. In 2007–08, they again lost the promotion play-off, but after some withdrawals in the Umaglesi Liga the team was finally promoted.[2] In the 2008–09 season, the team played in the top league,[3] but were to be relegated in the end.[4] Gagra avoided relegation only after higher placed teams withdrew from the league.[5]

Prolific decade, 2011–21

Gagra won the first League of 2010–2011 season,[6] and became the winner of the Georgian Cup by defeating three-time winners Torpedo Kutaisi 1–0 after extra time.[7]

In every season since the relegation to Liga 2 in 2012, Gagra were considered tough rivals aiming at the first division with 5th place being the worst final position. Overall, the club took part in Erovnuli Liga playoffs six times in sixteen years, although failed to overcome their opponents until 2021 when they beat Shukura and returned to the top flight after a ten-year absence.[8]

Gagra's performance in David Kipiani Cup has proved successful. As a second-division team, they reached the final in 2018 for the second time only to lose on penalty shootout. Two years later, though, they knocked out five clubs, including some of those regarded as contenders for the title, and won the cup without conceding a single goal in 630 minutes.[9]

As a three-times finalist and two-times winner of the Cup final within these 10 years,[10] Gagra achieved one of the best results among Georgian clubs.

Among the strongest, since 2022

Тhe 2023 season was noteworthy was for Gagra. First, they achieved the best results in the top division and sealed their league place for a third successive year. Besides, forward Zurab Museliani, who netted 17 goals, finished among the three top scorers of the season.[11] Gagra's junior team also shined. Although they made a debut in the fifth division, the team won the title race and gained automatic promotion to Liga 4.[12]

Records and statistics

League and cup history

Season League Georgian Cup Europe Top goalscorer
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
2005/06 2nd 3[lower-alpha 1] 34 19 11 4 49 22 68 Round of 16 -
2006/07 2nd 3[lower-alpha 2] 34 18 6 10 52 36 60 First round -
2007/08 2nd East 1↑[lower-alpha 3] 27 16 6 5 59 36 54 First round -
2008/09 1st 9 30 7 7 16 23 48 28 Round of 32 -
2009/10 1st 10↓ 36 5 9 22 30 59 24 Round of 16 - Giorgi Gabedava 10
2010/11 2nd 1↑ 32 23 6 3 73 19 75 Winners -
2011/12 1st 10↓ 36 9 7 20 35 53 34 Semi-final EL - 2Q Levan Sharikadze 5
2012/13 2nd 4 33 16 5 12 63 46 53 Round of 16 - John Jeremiah 20
2013/14 2nd 4 24 11 9 4 44 25 42 First round - Gogita Gogatishvili 10
2014/15 2nd 3 35 15 5 15 59 44 50 First round - Nika Tsotskhalashvili 8
2015/16 2nd 5 34 16 4 14 54 38 52 - - Nika Magrakvelidze 13
2016 2nd 2 16 9 4 3 29 21 28 First round - Levan Papava 13
2017 2nd 5 36 16 5 15 46 38 53 Fifth round - Nikoloz Khintibidze 15
2018 2nd 3[lower-alpha 4] 36 16 10 10 50 41 58 Runners-Up - Rati Tsatskrialashvili 16
2019 2nd 5 36 13 8 15 46 42 47 Round of 16 - Zviad Metreveli 5
2020 2nd 3[lower-alpha 5] 18 7 8 3 24 10 29 Winners - Giorgi Ivaniadze 5
2021 2nd 2↑[lower-alpha 6] 36 22 9 5 74 27 75 Round of 8 CL 1Q Tamaz Makatsaria 23
2022 1st 9[lower-alpha 7] 36 9 9 18 36 57 36 Round of 32 Tamaz Makatsaria, Teimuraz Shonia 6
2023 1st 7 36 10 8 18 47 65 38 Round of 32 Zurab Museliani 17

Notes

  1. ↑ Beaten by Tskhinvali 2–1 after extra time in promotion play-offs
  2. ↑ Lost to Chikhura 2–1 after extra time in promotion play-offs
  3. ↑ Beaten by Spartaki Tskhinvali 1–0 in promotion play-offs
  4. ↑ Lost to Sioni 4–0 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
  5. ↑ Lost to Torpedo 3–1 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
  6. ↑ Defeated Shukura 1–0 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
  7. ↑ Beat Spaeri on penalties in relegation play-offs

European history

As the winners of the 2010/11 Cup competition, Gagra took part in UEFA Europa League second qualifying round against the high-flying Anorthosis Famagusta. Widely regarded as favourites of the tie, the Cypriot side had a clear advantage in Larnaca, which resulted in 3-0 victory,[13] but Gagra fought back in the second leg held in Zestafoni. They scored an early goal, shortly afterwards increased the lead, although eventually failed to equalize the aggregate score.[14]

As of match played 15 July 2021
Competition Pld W D L GF GA
UEFA Europa League 2 1 0 1 2 3
UEFA Europa Conference League 2 0 1 1 1 2
Total 4 1 1 2 3 5
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2011–12 UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round Cyprus Anorthosis Famagusta 2–0 0–3 2–3
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League 1st qualifying round Montenegro Sutjeska Nikšić 1–1 0–1 1–2

Current squad

As of 1 October 2023[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Ukraine UKR Oleksandr Vorobey
3 DF Georgia (country) GEO Koba Iadze
4 DF Georgia (country) GEO Tornike Jangidze
5 DF Georgia (country) GEO Luka Nozadze
6 DF Georgia (country) GEO Kakhaber Kakashvili
7 MF Georgia (country) GEO Teimuraz Shonia
8 MF Georgia (country) GEO Erekle Sultanishvili
9 MF Georgia (country) GEO Zakaria Beglarishvili
11 FW Georgia (country) GEO Zurab Museliani
12 GK Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Bediashvili
14 DF Ukraine UKR Anatoliy Kozlenko
15 MF Ukraine UKR Vladyslav Khomutov
16 MF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Ivaniadze
17 FW Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Lomtadze
18 MF Georgia (country) GEO Lasha Chikhradze
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Papava
21 DF Georgia (country) GEO Levan Kakubava
22 DF Georgia (country) GEO Vasil Khositashvili (C)
23 DF Georgia (country) GEO Andro Nemsadze
24 MF Georgia (country) GEO Levan Jordania
27 MF Georgia (country) GEO Beka Shubitidze
29 MF Brazil BRA Matheus Markondele
30 MF Georgia (country) GEO Saba Zoidze
31 GK Georgia (country) GEO Nika Kavtaradze
33 DF Georgia (country) GEO Saba Mamatsashvili
35 FW Algeria ALG Idir Boutrif
39 DF Brazil BRA Claudinei
40 FW Zambia ZAM Justin Shonga

Personnel

Position Staff
Head coachGiorgi Oniani
Assistant head coachValeri Gviniashvili
Fitness coachShalva Nadiradze
Goalkeeping coachIrakli Shengelia

Management

Office Name
PresidentBeso Chikhradze
Vice-PresidentGoderdzi Chikhradze

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt partner
2010–PUMASandora

Honours

Managers

Notable players

Georgian national team member Tornike Okriashvili started his career as a professional player in this club in 2009/2010,[16] before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk on loan.

References

  1. ↑ Displaced Georgians keep memories alive with soccer in exile - Eurasianet
  2. ↑ "Georgia 2007/08". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Zobel backs Dinamo for the double". UEFA. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Season review: Georgia". UEFA. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "First division clubs in Europe 2009/10" (PDF). UEFA. p. 57. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Season review: Georgia". UEFA. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  7. ↑ "Gagra claim maiden Georgian Cup". UEFA. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "პლეი-ოფში ეროვნული ლიგის მომავალი მონაწილე გაირკვა". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 Dec 2021.
  9. ↑ "Gagra in Cup tournament". soccerway.
  10. ↑ "საქართველოს თასი "გაგრამ" მოიგო და უეფას კონფერენს ლიგაზე გავიდა". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 4 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "ჯოვინო, მუსელიანი, მარუშიჩი - ეროვნულ ლიგის ბომბარდირი სამი თავდამსხმელი გახდა". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  12. ↑ "Regionuli Liga, 2023". gff.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Anothosis - Gagra, 2012". uefa.com.
  14. ↑ "Gagra vs Anorthosis". uefa.com.
  15. ↑ "Gagra players". eliga.ge. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "რვა წლის წინანდელი პატარა ისტორია". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 2 August 2017.
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