FC Kolkheti-1913 Poti
Founded1913 (1913)
GroundFazisi Stadium
Poti, Georgia
Capacity6,000
ChairmanZaza Inashvili
ManagerDavit Kvirkvelia
LeagueErovnuli Liga
20231st of 10 in Liga 2, promoted
WebsiteClub website

FC Kolkheti-1913 is a Georgian football club based in Poti. Following the 2023 season, the club earned promotion to the Erovnuli Liga, the top division of Georgian football.

Being registered in 1913, Kolkheti is considered one of the oldest clubs in the South Caucasus.[1] Since the formation of independent Georgian leagues in 1990, they have spent 24 seasons in the top flight.

History

Domestic leagues

The Soviet period

The football club from Poti under the name Kolkhida (Colchis) for many years was a member of the Georgian Soviet championship until early 1960s. From 1962 to 1990, they spent 24 seasons in fourth and third divisions of the Soviet football system, including last consecutive eleven years in zone 9 of the Second league, with the 2nd place in 1989 being the best result.[2]

Earning league trophies

When GFF formed the national league in early 1990, Kolkheti-1913 took part in an opening game against Iberia Tbilisi. The historic match held at Boris Paichadze stadium ended 1–0 in favour of the guest team.[3] Therefore, Kolkheti became the first club to win a game in the history of Georgian national leagues.

Throughout the first decade, the Kolkhs were considered one of the strongest rivals. Apart from 1992/93, when they finished in 9th place, the club completed each season among top five teams with twice, in 1993-94 and 1996–97, coming second.[4] In this period the team also earned the bronze medals three times.

This success of the club was largely contributed to their sponsors from mid-1990s, the naval port of Poti.

Crisis begins

In 2006, after a foreign business company took over the port administration, the football club abruptly lost a significant income.[5] Despite being 10th among 16 clubs in 2005/06, due to the severe financial crisis Kolkheti had to quit the league.[6]

The club climbed back to Umaglesi Liga following the 2009/10 season, but returned to the second league three years later.[7] In 2011, a sponsorship deal with the naval port resumed to a less extent, which lasted for four years.[8]

Battle for survival

Kolkheti were back in the top division in 2014-15, although further financial difficulties hit the club in 2018, which pushed them to the verge of bankruptcy. As Kolkheti amassed a large amount of debts, they were deducted six points. Eventually, the team was relegated.[9]

While in Liga 2, Kolkheti still could not afford to pay off debts. In an emergency statement, the club appealed for urgent help.[10] Meanwhile, they were slapped with another 6 points deduction.[11] The overall situation badly affected the team. Three managers were sacked for unsatisfactory results within initial five months of the season.[12] The tide remained unchanged, though. Only in the last matchday did Kolkheti manage to avoid automatic relegation, but after being thrashed by Samgurali Tskaltubo in play-offs they slumped to the third division.[13]

Disappointment and triumph

In the initial two seasons Kolkheti were among primary promotion-chasers, although in both cases they suffered a setback in pursuit for an automatic promotion spot. The play-off results proved also unsuccessful despite the team's unbeaten aggregate score in the regular time. First they failed to beat WIT Georgia on penalties,[14] and a year later lost in extra time to Rustavi on away goals.[15]

In 2022, too, Kolkheti ended up in the 2nd place. However, due to changes made in the competition format before this season, the club ended their three-year tenure in this division and won automatic promotion back to Liga 2.[16] This year another event occurred which had a big impact on Kolkheti. On 29 August, the municipal club was handed over to a company linked to football manager Mamuka Jugeli.[17]

Kolkheti achieved a remarkable success in the 2nd division in 2023. While reaching the national cup semifinals, the team emerged victorious after a dramatic hard-fought battle against Gareji for the first place, which enabled them to return to the Erovnuli Liga after a five-year absence.[18]

European competitions

Based on successful performance in Umaglesi Liga, Kolkheti-1913 represented Georgia on UEFA Cup for four consecutive seasons from 1996 until 2000.

The only victory achieved in this competition against Dinamo Minsk was insufficient for qualifying for the next round. Having lost the first leg 0–1, Kolkheti conceded an early goal at home and scored twice afterwards, but the away goals rule gave a final advantage to their opponents.[19]

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup GS Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zemun 2–3 - 5th
Finland FF Jaro - 0–2
France Guingamp 1–3 -
Romania Dinamo București - 0–2
1997–98 UEFA Cup 1Q Belarus Dinamo Minsk 2–1 0–1 2–2
1998–99 UEFA Cup 1Q Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Red Star Belgrade 0–4 0–7 0–11
1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R North Macedonia Cementarnica 55 0–4 2–4 2–8

Seasons

YearDiv.PosPWDLGF–GAPtsCup
19901st5/18341951053-3162Quarterfinals
19911st4/2019103630-1933
1991/921st5/203815111249-4556Round of 32
1992/931st9/17321261447-4542Round of 16
1993/19941st, Group West1/81492336-2129Semifinals
1-10 Places2/1018142251-2044
1994/951st3/1630203772-2863Round of 32
1995/961st3/1630222669-3868Quarterfinals
1996/971st2/1630204675-2864Quarterfinals
1997-981st3/1630176756-2757Quarterfinals
1998/991st4/1630157857-3652Round of 16
1999/20001st, Group B2/81481519-1525Quarterfinals
1-8 Places5/81473418-1037
2000/011st6/122287722-1831Quarterfinals
1-6 Places5/61022610-1924
2001/021st5/1222105732-2935Round of 16
1-6 Places4/6102269-1626
2002/031st6/1222931028-3330Round of 16
1-6 Places6/6100555-2320
2003/041st9/1222731218-3524Round of 16
7-12 Places8/121063114-633
2004/051st9/1036952232-6332Quarterfinals
2005/061st10/16[lower-alpha 1]30951626-3532Quarterfinals
2006/07
2007/082nd5/1027117936-33401st Round
2008/092nd5/11301361145-4045Round of 16
2009/102nd, Group A2/1528194563-2161Quarterfinals
2010/111st7/103610101625-4740Round of 16
2011/121st8/122268819-2426Round of 16
2012/131st10/1022041811-434Round of 16
Relegation round6/632382122-5617
2013/142nd, Group A2/1324174351-13552nd Round
2014/151st10/16309101131-31372nd Round
2015/161st12/1630761721-41272nd Round
20161st, Group Red4/71260610-1818Quarterfinals
20171st9/1036682231-73265th Round
20181st10/1036482426-7614[lower-alpha 2]3rd Round
20192nd9/10361042231-8028[lower-alpha 3]3rd Round
20203rd2/1018122447-18382nd Round
20213rd2/1026147554-28492nd Round
20223rd2/1630216376-29693rd Round
20231st1/1636238570-2877Semifinals

Notes

  1. Relegated due to financial problems.
  2. Six points deduction.
  3. Six points deduction.

Overall

Seasons spent in Georgian leagues since 1990:

Umaglesi Liga / Erovnuli Liga (1st tier): 24

Pirveli Liga / Erovnuli Liga 2 (2nd tier): 6

Meore Liga / Liga 3 (3rd tier): 3

Correct up to 2023 season

Current squad

As of 1 August 2023[20]

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 Yaroslav Kotlyarov
2 DF Georgia (country) GEO Nikoloz Gabelaia
3 DF Georgia (country) GEO Akaki Giunashvili
4 DF Georgia (country) GEO Zurab Japiashvili
5 DF Georgia (country) GEO Mamuka Kapanadze
6 MF Georgia (country) GEO Nikoloz Gogebashvili
7 MF Georgia (country) GEO Lasha Gvalia (C)
8 MF Georgia (country) GEO Luka Kadaria
9 FW Georgia (country) GEO Mamia Gavashelishvili
10 FW Georgia (country) GEO Data Sitchinava
11 FW Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Khintibidze
12 MF Georgia (country) GEO Valery Olkhovi
13 FW Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Robakidze
14 MF Georgia (country) GEO Temur Lomadze
15 DF Georgia (country) GEO Beka Kharshiladze
16 DF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Akhaladze
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF Georgia (country) GEO Erekle Jijavadze
18 FW Georgia (country) GEO Tsotne Chikovani
19 MF Georgia (country) GEO Ivan Potskhveria
21 MF Georgia (country) GEO Anatoly Mesiachenko
22 GK Georgia (country) GEO Luka Kharshiladze
23 MF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Meskhi
24 FW Georgia (country) GEO Lasha Kokhreidze
25 DF Georgia (country) GEO Davit Megrelishvili
27 FW Georgia (country) GEO Davit Krasovski
28 MF Georgia (country) GEO Davit Gogichaishvili
30 FW Georgia (country) GEO Davit Zurabiani (On loan from Dinamo Batumi)
33 MF Ukraine UKR Yaroslav Shapovalov
35 GK Ukraine UKR Artem Fastov
37 MF Georgia (country) GEO Demetre Gvasalia
MF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Kashia

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Kvernadze (at Frosinone)

Managers

Name Nat. From To
Soso Pilia Georgia (country) November 2012 June 2013
Zaza Inashvili Georgia (country) July 2013 October 2015
Gela Sanaia Georgia (country) October 2015 August 2017
Oleksandr Shtelin Ukraine September 2017 December 2017
Konstantin Galkin Russia February 2018 March 2018
Nugzar Tvaradze Georgia (country) March 2018 September 2018
Viktor Demidov Russia September 2018 December 2018
Paata Metreveli Georgia (country) February 2019 April 2019
Soso Pilia Georgia (country) April 2019 June 2019
Giorgi Krasovski Georgia (country) June 2019 August 2019
Nugzar Tvaradze Georgia (country) August 2019 October 2019
Vladimer Chkonia Georgia (country) October 2019 December 2019
Davit Makharadze Georgia (country) February 2020 October 2020
Nugzar Tvaradze Georgia (country) October 2020 December 2020
Giorgi Krasovski Georgia (country) February 2021 June 2021
Gia Gigatadze Georgia (country) June 2021 May 2022
Davit Kvirkvelia Georgia (country) June 2022

Honours

• Georgian Soviet Championship

Winners (2): 1978, 1988[21]

Soviet Second League Zone IX (Caucasus)

Runner-up (1): 1989
Third place (4): 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987

Umaglesi Liga

Runners-up (2): 1993-94 and 1996-97
Third place (3): 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98

Pirveli Liga/Erovnuli Liga 2

Winners (1): 2023
Runners-up (2): 2009-2010, 2013-2014 (A Group)

Liga 3

Runners-up (3): 2020, 2021, 2022

Stadium

The Fazisi arena was built in 1961. Its reconstruction got under way in 2013, but it took seven years before the works were completed. Meanwhile, Kolkheti-1913 held their home games on Rugby Arena in Poti or in some neighbouring cities. Football returned to Fazisi in October 2019.[22]

References

  1. Georgia - List of Foundation Dates.
  2. "Kolkheti in USSR II league". wildstat.com.
  3. "ასე იწყებოდა: ეროვნული ჩემპიონატის პირველი მატჩი 30 წლის წინ გაიმართა". popsport.com (in Georgian). 30 March 2020.
  4. "Kolkheti - overall stats". wildstat.com.
  5. "კოლხეთის განცხადება:ისტორიული კლუბი მავანთა გამო კრიზისში ყოფნას არ იმსახურებს". crystalbet.com (in Georgian). 22 October 2019.
  6. "2005/06 season". soccerway.com.
  7. "Umaglesi Liga 2012/13". soccerway.com.
  8. "ფოთის "კოლხეთი" - მილიონერთა ქალაქის გაჭირვებული გუნდი". sportall.ge (in Georgian), 29 December 2014.
  9. "Final table in 2018". eliga.ge.
  10. "შესაძლებელია ქართული საფეხბურთო რუკიდან გავქრეთ". popsport.com (in Georgian). 29 June 2019.
  11. "ფოთის კოლხეთმა ფეხბურთელებთან შეთანხმებას მიაღწია". livepress.com (in Georgian). 20 August 2019.
  12. "ფოთის საფეხბურთო კლუბი მეოთხე მწვრთნელის მოლოდინშია". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 27 August 2019.
  13. "Samgurali vs Kolkheti-1913". flashscore.com.
  14. "2020 play-offs". soccerway.com.
  15. "„ვიტ ჯორჯია" და „რუსთავი" ეროვნულ ლიგა 2-ში დარჩნენ". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 11 December 2021.
  16. "ლიგა 2-ში „კოლხეთი 1913" და „დინამო თბილისი 2" ითამაშებენ". 1tv.ge (in Georgian), 14 November 2022.
  17. "შპს "საფეხბურთო კლუბი კოლხეთი 1913"". poti.gov.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  18. "ფოთის "კოლხეთი" ეროვნულ ლიგაში დაბრუნდა". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  19. "Kolkheti vs Dinamo Minsk". uefa.com.
  20. "A list of players". eliga.ge.
  21. Georgia - List of Champions - rsssf.org
  22. "ფოთის ცენტრალურ სტადიონზე შვიდი წლის შემდეგ პირველი მატჩი მიმდინარეობს". Georgian Public TV (in Georgian). 6 October 2019.
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