FC Spaeri explained

Clubname:FC Spaeri
Ground:Spaeri Stadium, Tbilisi
Capacity:2,500
Manager:Kakha Maisuradze
League:Erovnuli Liga 2
Season:2023
Position:3rd in Erovnuli Liga 2

FC Spaeri (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი სპაერი) is a Georgian association football club based in Tbilisi. The club competes in Liga 2, the second tier of the Georgian football system.

History

Spaeri was established in 2017 by five individuals working in the Special State Protection Service,[1] the badge of the team resembling the logo of the SSPS. The team mostly consisted of the servicemen of this organization and initially participated in the Tbilisi Open League - the 5th and lowest level of the league pyramid[2] before becoming a member of the Regionuli Liga.[3]

Spaeri finished the 2018 season as runners-up and obtained the right to take part in the newly created Liga 4. Having won 21 games out of 27, they claimed the 2019 Liga 4 title and won automatic promotion to Liga 3.

Their debut in the third division was impressive with Spaeri vying for a promotion play-off place up until the last matchday. Eventually, the club came two points short of third place.[4]

The team improved their performance in 2021 and, following an unbeaten run in 20 league games, won the 2021 Liga 3 title six rounds before the end of the season.[5]

Initially, they did not seem encouraging in the second division. With a single point in their initial four matches, Spaeri were sitting bottom of the table. However, the team quickly recovered, produced the longest unbeaten streak of the season and qualified for the promotion play-offs by coming 2nd in the league. Forward Levan Papava became the top scorer of the league with 17 goals netted during the regular season.[6] He added a brace in a dramatic promotion-relegation tie against Erovnuli Liga side Gagra but the team failed to secure promotion as Gagra won on penalties.[7]

Managerial History

Kakha Maisuradze has been coaching the team since their foundation in 2017.

Stadium

Spaeri Stadium, located in an eastern suburb of Tbilisi, was officially opened in September 2018.[8] Тhe pitch has an artificial turf.

Seasons

Season League Position P W D L GF–GA Pts Cup
2017Tbilisi Open League bgcolor=Gold1st of 9211920112-18 59Did not enter
2018Regionuli Liga, Group A bgcolor=Silver2nd of 1120154179-18 611st Round
2019bgcolor=Gold1st of 1027211573-2964 3rd Round
2020Liga 34th of 101893631-20303rd Round
2021bgcolor=Gold1st of 1026 20 4 2 79-20 64 3rd Round
2022Liga 2bgcolor=Silver2nd of 1028 15 6 7 57-35 51 Round of 16
20233rd of 1036 20 6 10 68-48 66 Round of 16

Current squad

As of 1 August 2023[9]

Honours

Georgian

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: გავიცნოთ სპაერი . worldsport.ge (in Georgian) . 24 October 2021.
  2. Web site: გავიცნოთ "სპაერი" - სახელმწიფო დაცვის სპეციალური სამსახურის კლუბი . worldsport.ge (in Georgian) . 6 March 2023.
  3. Web site: ახალი ქართული კლუბი სპაერი . sportall.ge (in Georgian) . 24 October 2021.
  4. Web site: 2020 regular season . soccerway.com . 24 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Liga 3, 2021 . gff.ge.
  6. Web site: Statistics, 2022 . erovnuliliga.ge.
  7. Web site: გაგრას 3:3 ფლეი-ოფში პენალტებში გამარჯვება - თრილერი და . crystalsport.ge . 12 December 2022 . KA.
  8. Web site: სპაერის სტადიონი საზეიმო ვითარებაში გაიხსნა . 24 October 2021 . sportall.ge (in Georgian).
  9. Web site: List of players . erovnuliliga.ge.