Otari Dzidziguri Explained

Otari Dzidziguri
Fullname:Otari Shalvovich Dzidziguri
Birth Date:6 August 1923
Birth Place:Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, TSFSR, Soviet Union
Death Date:death date unknown
Manageryears1:1963
Managerclubs1:Dnipro Kremenchuk
Manageryears2:1966
Managerclubs2:Metallurg Almalyk
Manageryears3:1968
Managerclubs3:Arai Stepnogorsk
Manageryears4:1973-1974
Managerclubs4:Khimik Grodno

Otari Dzidziguri (Georgian: ოთარ ძიძიგური, Russian: Отари Шалвович Дзидзигури; born 6 August 1923 – death date unknown) was a former Soviet army officer, police officer and football coach.

Early life

Dzidziguri was born on 6 August 1923 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, TSFSR, Soviet Union.[1]

When Nazi Germany invaded Soviet Union, Dzidziguri was called up for military service by Ordzhonikidze Military commissariat of Tbilisi on 2 September 1942. He began service on 15 September with the rank of Senior lieutenant.[2] From June to December 1943 he was divizion chief of the reconnaissance of the 187th Artillery Regiment of the 60th Guards Rifle Division. He became artillery battery commander of the 666th Artillery Regiment of the 222nd Rifle Division from December 1943 to February 1944 with the rank of captain. His service was finished on 29 November 1951. During the war he was awarded Order of the Red Star, Order of the Patriotic War Second Class, twice Medal "For Courage" and Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945". He served in Militsiya in Keda Municipality and Signagi Municipality Georgia.[1]

Coaching career

In 1962 Dzidziguri became an assistant in newly formed Neftyanik Fergana. In the next two years he spent multiple short stints in various clubs. He was coaching in Tashkent Region, Samarkand, Novosibirsk and Kremenchuk. To each of those clubs, he brought his trusted players with him. M. Rozin, head coach of the Football Federation of the Soviet Union described Dzidziguri as "a coach after which grass does not grow". He also stated that "Coaches like that are weeds of football fields, and they certainly have no place in Soviet football".[3] He became a manager at Dnipro in Kremenchuk for the 1963 season replacing Anatolii Sadovskyi. It is unknown when he became manager or when he left, Anatolii Sadovskyi managed every league game. In 1966 he joined Metallurg Almalyk as a manager. His next club was newly created Arai Stepnogorsk in 1968 where he became its first manager.[4] His next team was Dinamo Sukhumi where he was Nachalnik Komandy in 1972.[5] Dzidziguri then joined Khimik Grodno in 1972 as Nachalnik Komandy or a director of team. He was a manager from May 1973 to June 1974.[6] He was replaced by Vladimir Zabolotskikh. He had a very unsuccessful year with the team finishing in last place.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Сведения об Отари Дзидзигури из учётно-послужной картотеки. poisk.re. 15 October 2023. ru. Information about Otari Dzidziguri from the service file.
  2. Web site: Учётная карточка Отари Дзидзигури. poisk.re. 15 October 2023. ru. Service card of Otari Dzidziguri.
  3. Rozin. M.. July 1964. Плевела футбольных полей. Weeds of football fields. ru. Sports games. 7. 110. 8. 17 October 2023.
  4. Web site: Telezhynskaia. Nataliia. Степногорский футбол. Страницы истории. natalya-telezhinskaya.ru. 25 August 2018. 15 October 2023. ru. Stepnogorsk football. Pages of history.
  5. Web site: Динамо-Химик. wildstat.ru. ru. 24 July 1974. 17 October 2023. Dinamo-Khimik matchday programme.
  6. Web site: Ярошевич Александр Николаевич. fcneman.by. 15 October 2023. ru. Yaroshevich Aleksandr Nikolaevich.
  7. Web site: Поздравляем с Новым Годом!. fcneman.by. 31 December 2021. 15 October 2023. ru. Happy New Year!.
  8. Web site: Юбилейная награда Отари Дзидзигури. poisk.re. 15 October 2023. ru. Jubilee award of Otari Dzidziguri.
  9. Web site: Награда Отари Дзидзигури. poisk.re. 15 October 2023. ru. Award of Otari Dzidziguri.