FC Gagra

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FC Gagra (Georgian: გაგრა) is a Georgian football club, which was promoted to Erovnuli Liga, the first tier of Georgian league system, following the 2021 season.

FC Gagra
Full nameFootball Club Gagra
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
GroundDavid Petriashvili Arena,
Tbilisi, Georgia
Capacity2,130
PresidentBesik Chikhradze
ManagerGaga Kirkitadze
LeagueErovnuli Liga
20229th of 10

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 Abkhaz–Georgian conflict 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

Early history

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

Recent years

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 15 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 league 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 victoriously completed the Cup season without conceding a single goal in 630 minutes.[9]

Being a three-times participant and two-times winner of the Cup final during the decade, Gagra have achieved one of the best results among the Georgian clubs.

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 34 19 11 4 49 22 68 Round of 16 -
2006/07 2nd 3 34 18 6 10 52 36 60 First round -
2007/08 2nd East 1 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 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 18 7 8 3 24 10 29 Winners - Giorgi Ivaniadze 5
2021 2nd 2 36 22 9 5 74 27 75 Round of 8 CL 1Q Tamaz Makatsaria 23
2022 1st 9 36 9 9 18 36 57 36 Round of 32 Tamaz Makatsaria, Teimuraz Shonia 6

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,[10] 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.[11]

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   Anorthosis Famagusta 2–0 0–3 2–3
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League 1st qualifying round   Sutjeska Nikšić 1–1 0–1 1–2

Current squad

As of 10 July 2022[12]

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   UKR Oleksandr Vorobey
2 DF   GEO Vasil Khositashvili
4 DF   GEO Nika Chanturia
5 DF   GEO Luka Nozadze
6 DF   GEO Zurab Sekhniashvili
7 MF   GEO Teimuraz Shonia
8 MF   GEO Erekle Sultanishvili
9 MF   GEO Ivane Khabelashvili
10 FW   GEO Giorgi Bukhaidze
11 FW   SEN Arfang Daffé
15 MF   GEO Giorgi Kobuladze
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF   GEO Sandro Shetsiruli
17 MF   GEO Giorgi Lomtadze
19 MF   GEO Otar Parulava
21 MF   GEO Nodar Lominadze
22 MF   GEO Lasha Chikhradze
26 MF   BEN Tamimou Ouorou
27 DF   GEO Shota Kerdzevadze
29 FW   GEO Giorgi Gvishiani
30 FW   GEO Tamaz Makatsaria
31 GK   GEO Nika Kavtaradze
35 DF   GEO Koba Iadze

Personnel

Position Staff
Head coach Gaga Kirkitadze
Assistant head coach Valeri Gviniashvili
Fitness coach Shalva Nadiradze
Goalkeeping coach Irakli Shengelia

Management

Office Name
President Beso Chikhradze
Vice-President Goderdzi Chikhradze

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt partner
2010– PUMA Sandora

Honours

Managers

Notable players

Georgian national team member Tornike Okriashvili started his career as a professional player in this club in 2009/2010, 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. ^ "Anothosis - Gagra, 2012". uefa.com.
  11. ^ "Gagra vs Anorthosis". uefa.com.
  12. ^ "Gagra players". eliga.ge. Retrieved 11 June 2021.