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FC Gagra

Full name	Football Club Gagra
Founded	2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Ground	David Petriashvili Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia
Capacity	1,000
President	Besik Chikhradze
Manager	Vladimer Khachidze
League	Erovnuli Liga
2024	8th of 10
Home colours Away colours

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, 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. In the 2008–09 season, the team played in the top league, but were to be relegated in the end. Gagra avoided relegation only after higher placed teams withdrew from the league.

Prolific decade, 2011–21

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

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.

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.

As a three-times finalist and two-times winner of the Cup final within these 10 years, 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. 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.

Records and statistics

League and cup history

Notes

1. Beaten by Tskhinvali 2–1 after extra time in promotion play-offs
2. Lost to Chikhura 2–1 after extra time in promotion play-offs
3. Beaten by Spartaki Tskhinvali 1–0 in promotion play-offs
4. Lost to Sioni 4–0 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
5. Lost to Torpedo 3–1 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
6. Defeated Shukura 1–0 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
7. Beat Spaeri on penalties in relegation play-offs
8. Beat Sioni on penalties in relegation playoffs

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, 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.

As of match played 15 July 2021

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 1 September 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  UKR Oleksandr Vorobei 3 DF  GEO Otar Chochia 4 DF  GEO Tornike Jangidze 5 MF  GEO Mate Tsintsadze 7 MF  GEO Nodar Kavtaradze 8 MF  GEO Giorgi Papuashvili 9 FW  GEO Giorgi Lomtadze 11 DF  GEO Luka Lakvekheliani 12 GK  GEO Giorgi Bediashvili 13 DF  GEO Levan Gegetchkori 14 DF  GEO Zurab Chavchanidze 15 MF  GEO Otar Aptsiauri 16 FW  CMR Cyrille Tchamba 18 MF  GEO Abdouramane Ouologuem

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 MF  BRA Vinícius Grota 20 MF  GEO Giorgi Ubilava 21 DF  GEO Levan Kakubava (Captain) 22 MF  GEO Davit Nachkebia 23 DF  GEO Giorgi Kimadze 24 DF  GEO Irakli Iakobidze 25 DF  GEO Giorgi Chekhani 26 MF  GEO Beka Gabiskiria 29 MF  GEO Giorgi Todua 30 MF  GEO Gia Nadareishvili 33 MF  GEO Giorgi Kharebashvili 34 DF  BRA Augusto 35 FW  GEO Goga Gogoladze 40 FW  GEO Zaza Tsitskishvili

Personnel

Management

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Honours

• Erovnuli Liga 2
  • Winners (2): 2007–08, 2010–11
  • Runners-up (2): 2016, 2021
  • Third place (5): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2014–15, 2018, 2020
• Georgian Cup
  • Winners (2): 2010–11, 2020

Managers

• Kakhi Karanadze (2004–2009)
• Viktor Kashchey (2009)
• Vladimer Khachidze (2009–2010)
• Anatoliy Piskovets (2010–2011)
• Varlam Kilasonia (2011)
• Zviad Jeladze (2011–2012)
• Tengiz Sichinava (2014)
• Anatoliy Piskovets (2015–2017)
• Denys Khomutov (2017–2018)
• Gaga Kirkitadze (2019–2023)

Notable players

Georgian national team member Tornike Okriashvili started his career as a professional player in this club in 2009–10, 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 December 2021.
9. "Gagra in Cup tournament". soccerway.
10. "საქართველოს თასი "გაგრამ" მოიგო და უეფას კონფერენს ლიგაზე გავიდა". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 4 December 2022.
11. "ჯოვინო, მუსელიანი, მარუშიჩი - ეროვნულ ლიგის ბომბარდირი სამი თავდამსხმელი გახდა". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 3 December 2023.
12. "Regionuli Liga, 2023". gff.ge (in Georgian). 28 March 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
13. "Anothosis - Gagra, 2012". uefa.com.
14. "Gagra vs Anorthosis". uefa.com.
15. "Gagra players". eliga.ge. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
16. "რვა წლის წინანდელი პატარა ისტორია". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 2 August 2017.

External links

• Official Site
• Profile at uefa.com
• FC Gagra Results

• FC Gagra
• Football clubs in Georgia (country)
• Association football clubs established in 2004
• 2004 establishments in Georgia (country)
• Association football clubs established in 2006