FC Gagra explained

Clubname:FC Gagra
Upright:0.8
Fullname:Football Club Gagra
Ground:David Petriashvili Arena,
Tbilisi, Georgia
Capacity:1,000
Owntitle:President
Owner:Besik Chikhradze
Manager:Vladimer Khachidze
League:Erovnuli Liga
Season:2023
Position:7th of 10
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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 ongoing Abkhazia 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

First years, 2004–2010

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 in 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 for Gagra. First, they achieved their best results in the top division and for the first time 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

SeasonLeagueGeorgian CupEuropeTop goalscorer
Div.Pos.Pl.WDLGSGAPNameLeague
2005/062nd33419114492268Round of 16-
2006/072nd33418610523660First round-
2007/082nd East1271665593654First round-
2008/091st9307716234828Round of 32-
2009/101st10365922305924Round of 16- Giorgi Gabedava10
2010/112nd1322363731975align=center bgcolor=goldWinners-
2011/121st10369720355334Semi-finalEL - 2QLevan Sharikadze5
2012/132nd43316512634653Round of 16- John Jeremiah20
2013/142nd4241194442542First round- Gogita Gogatishvili10
2014/152nd33515515594450First round- Nika Tsotskhalashvili8
2015/162nd53416414543852- - Nika Magrakvelidze13
20162nd216943292128First round- Levan Papava13
20172nd53616515463853Fifth round- Nikoloz Khintibidze15
20182nd336161010504158align=center bgcolor=silverRunners-Up- Rati Tsatskrialashvili16
20192nd53613815464247Round of 16-Zviad Metreveli 5
20202nd318783241029align=center bgcolor=goldWinners-Giorgi Ivaniadze5
20212nd2362295742775Round of 8CL 1QTamaz Makatsaria23
20221st9369918365736Round of 32Tamaz Makatsaria, Teimuraz Shonia6
20231st73610818476538Round of 32Zurab Museliani17

Notes

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 favorites 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 Zestaponi. They scored an early goal, shortly afterwards increased the lead, although eventually failed to equalize the aggregate score.[14]

CompetitionPldWDLGFGA
UEFA Europa League210123
UEFA Europa Conference League201112
Total411235
SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2011–12UEFA Europa League2nd qualifying round Anorthosis Famagusta2–00–32–3
2021–22UEFA Europa Conference League1st qualifying round Sutjeska Nikšić1–10–11–2

Current squad

[15]

Personnel

PositionStaff
Head coachGiorgi Oniani
Assistant head coachValeri Gviniashvili
Fitness coach Shalva Nadiradze
Goalkeeping coach Irakli Shengelia

Management

OfficeName
President Beso Chikhradze
Vice-president Goderdzi Chikhradze

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Honours

Managers

Notable players

Georgian national team member Tornike Okriashvili started his career as a professional player in this club in 2009–10,[16] before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk on loan.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://eurasianet.org/displaced-georgians-keep-memories-alive-with-soccer-in-exile Displaced Georgians keep memories alive with soccer in exile
  2. Web site: Georgia 2007/08. RSSSF. 16 September 2011.
  3. Web site: Zobel backs Dinamo for the double. UEFA. 16 September 2011. 16 September 2008.
  4. Web site: Season review: Georgia. UEFA. 16 September 2011. 9 June 2009.
  5. Web site: First division clubs in Europe 2009/10. UEFA. 16 September 2011. 57. PDF.
  6. Web site: Season review: Georgia. UEFA. 16 September 2011. 20 June 2011.
  7. Web site: Gagra claim maiden Georgian Cup. UEFA. 16 September 2011. 26 May 2011.
  8. News: პლეი-ოფში ეროვნული ლიგის მომავალი მონაწილე გაირკვა . 12 Dec 2021 . sportall.ge (in Georgian) . 12 December 2021.
  9. Web site: Gagra in Cup tournament . soccerway.
  10. Web site: საქართველოს თასი "გაგრამ" მოიგო და უეფას კონფერენს ლიგაზე გავიდა . worldsport.ge (in Georgian) . 4 December 2022.
  11. Web site: ჯოვინო, მუსელიანი, მარუშიჩი - ეროვნულ ლიგის ბომბარდირი სამი თავდამსხმელი გახდა . 1tv.ge (in Georgian) . 3 December 2023.
  12. Web site: Regionuli Liga, 2023 . gff.ge (in Georgian) . 3 December 2023.
  13. Web site: Anothosis - Gagra, 2012 . uefa.com.
  14. News: Gagra vs Anorthosis . uefa.com.
  15. Web site: Gagra players . eliga.ge . 4 March 2024.
  16. Web site: რვა წლის წინანდელი პატარა ისტორია . worldsport.ge (in Georgian) . 2 August 2017.