Antal Yaakobishvili Explained

Antal Yaakobishvili
Birth Date:12 July 2004
Birth Place:Budapest, Hungary
Height:1.93 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Girona B
Clubnumber:4
Youthclubs1:Baráti Bőrlabda
Youthyears2:2015–2017
Youthclubs2:MTK Budapest
Youthyears3:2017–2021
Youthclubs3:Sant Just
Youthyears4:2021–2023
Youthclubs4:Girona
Years1:2022–
Caps1:26
Goals1:1
Years2:2024–
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2023
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2023–
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:21 January 2024
Nationalteam-Update:21 November 2023

Antal Yaakobishvili (born 12 July 2004) is a Hungarian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Spanish club Girona FC B.

Early life

Yaakobishvili was born in Budapest, Hungary to Georgian Jewish father; his father was born in Georgia and spent two years in Israel, enabling Israeli citizenship; his mother is Hungarian.[1] [2] His younger brother Áron is also a footballer, and plays as a goalkeeper for the youth sides of FC Barcelona.[1] [3]

Club career

Yaakobishvili moved to Barcelona in 2017 after his mother received a job offer in the city,[4] and joined the youth sides of Atlètic Sant Just FC along with his younger brother. In 2021, he was signed by Girona FC, joining their Juvenil squads.[5]

Yaakobishvili made his senior debut with Girona's reserves on 11 December 2022, starting in a 4–1 Tercera Federación home routing of CE L'Hospitalet. He scored his first senior goal the following 12 February, netting the B's second in a 2–0 away win over UE Tona.[6]

Yaakobishvili made his first team debut on 17 January 2024, coming on as a half-time substitute for Juanpe in a 3–1 home win over Rayo Vallecano, for the season's Copa del Rey.[7] [8]

On 21 January 2024, he debuted in La Liga in a 5–1 victory over Sevilla FC on the 25 game week of the 2023–24 La Liga season.[9]

International career

Yaakobishvili has represented Hungary at under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels. In June 2023, it was reported by Israeli sports journalism outlet Sport 5 that Yaakobishvili and his brother were attempting to gain Israeli citizenship so as to represent the nation at international level.[1] However, their agent Attila Georgi denied these rumours, stating that the brothers were Hungarian and that they wanted to represent Hungary at international level.[10]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Girona B2022–23Tercera Federación140140
2023–24Tercera Federación120120
Total260260
Girona2023–24La Liga102030
Career total270200000290

Notes and References

  1. Web site: שוער העתיד של ברצלונה ואחיו שיכולים לשחק בנבחרת ישראל. The future goalkeeper of Barcelona and his brother who can play for the Israeli national team. Moti. Pashchatsky. Elhanan. Malamud. 22 June 2023. 1 August 2023. sport5.co.il. he.
  2. Web site: "Nem lőnek elég erőset!" – Lewandowskiékkal készült a Barca Magyar kapusa. "They don't shoot hard enough!" - Barca's Hungarian goalkeeper trained with Lewandowski. 17 May 2023. 1 August 2023. nb1.hu. hu.
  3. Web site: Magyar futballista edzett az FC Barcelona első csapatával. Hungarian football player trained with the first team of FC Barcelona. 25 March 2022. 24 October 2022. magyarnemzet.hu. hu.
  4. Web site: ¿Quiénes son Astralaga, Kochen y Yako, los suplentes de Iñaki Peña?. Who are Astralaga, Kochen and Yako, the replacements of Iñaki Peña?. El Periódico. es. 6 December 2023. 18 January 2024.
  5. Web site: Magyar válogatott: spanyol élcsapatból érkezhet Marco Rossi meglepetésembere az Eb-re. Hungarian national team: Marco Rossi's surprise man may come to the European Championship from the Spanish top team. SportPoszt.com. hu. 18 January 2024. 18 January 2024.
  6. Web site: El Girona B fa la feina al camp del Tona (0–2). Girona B get the job done at the home grounds of Tona (0–2). L'Esportiu. ca. 12 February 2023. 18 January 2024.
  7. Web site: El fuego del Girona llega a la Copa. Girona's fire reach the Cup. Marca. es. 17 January 2024. 18 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Yaakobishvili, el gigante que ilusiona al Girona. Yaakobishvili, the giant who gives hope to Girona. Sport. es. 18 January 2024. 18 January 2024.
  9. Web site: 21 January 2024 . Yaakobishvili Antal a La Ligában is bemutatkozott, újra tarolt, és élre állt a Girona! . 22 January 2024 . Nemzeti Sport . hu.
  10. Web site: Cáfol a menedzser: a Yaakobishvili testvérek nem váltanak országot. The agent denies: the Yaakobishvili brothers are not changing countries. 28 June 2023. 1 August 2023. sportal.blikk.hu. hu.