FC Zestafoni

Football Club Zestafoni is a Georgian football club based in Zestafoni. They play their home games at David Abashidze Stadium. Zestafoni was founded on 18 June 2004 by the initiative of the shareholders of JSC Giorgi Nikoladze Zestafoni Ferro-Alloy Plant.

FC Zestafoni
Full nameFootball Club Zestafoni
Nickname(s)Zesta, Feroelebi (Ferroians), Margvelebi (Margvetians)
Founded2004 (2004)
GroundDavid Abashidze Stadium
Zestafoni, Georgia
Capacity4,558
OwnerIlia Kokaia
ManagerLevan Jokhadze
LeagueLiga 3
2022Liga 3, 15nd
WebsiteClub website

At that time Zestafoni have their own club FC Metallurg Zestafoni. A new club was formed as Margveti Zestafoni joined Pirveli Liga and promoted in the first season. Margveti was a member of Umaglesi Liga and achieved their best result in 1995–96 by finishing runner-up.

History

FC Metalurgi Zestafoni (1937–1989)

From the beginning of the 20th century football was given rise in Georgia. In 1906 the first football fan club was founded in Tbilisi. This happened by the patronage of Mr. Lgotac. He was the one who on 23 February 1907 established the first football club in Georgia. The club, called "Comet", had its own regulations, funds, uniforms and a stadium.

Though it should be mentioned, that football was played far earlier in Georgia, mainly in the sea-side cities, first of all in Poti, where local groups competed in "passing/tossing a ball" with British mariners. That's why Poti is considered to be a cradle of Georgian football.

As to Zestafoni, in out city, football has been played since the beginning of the 20th century. First football players from Zestafoni were students of the local gymnasium (currently secondary school #1). According to our data, Zestafoni football team held its first match with one of the clubs of western Georgia (according to different sources Senaki or Ozurgeti) in 1918, during a celebration organized to commemorate Independence of Georgia. First international match held in Zestafoni was also during the independence period, in 1920. Zestafoni team competed with a group of British Occupational Forces and defeated it by 2–1.

In the 1920s Zestafoni football players held various matches with teams of neighboring cities. In 1927 first Football Championship in held in Georgia. First Champion of Georgia is Team of Batumi.

In the 1930s two football teams are established in Zestafoni – "Mertskhali" (Swallow) and "Locomotive", that often take part in local and regional tournaments.

A truly new era in the history of Zestafoni football starts form the second half of the 1930s, after a metallurgical giant, "Zestafoni Ferro-Alloy Plant", has been put into exploitation. It was by the initiative of professional committee of the plant, that a meeting of workers of the physical culture was held on 10 May 1937. A decision of establishing a football team was made on the meeting. The team was called "Metallurgi".

In August 1938, "Metallurgi" participates in the union tournament held by sport-society "Metallurgist" in Minsk, where the team defeats "Electrostal Moscow", "Krasni Oktiabr Staliningrad", "Metallurg Leningrad" and loses in final to "Serp i Molot". In 1938 FC Metallurgi Zestafoni is engaged in Georgian Championship, where it participates regularly until 1989.

In various years of Soviet era "Metallurgi" was:

Silver medalist of Georgian Championship – 1967, 1970, 1982;

Runners-Up of Georgian Cup – 1966, 1967, 1971 years;

Georgian Cup's Winner – 1962.

Various football players from "Metallurgi" played for leading Georgian football clubs on various degrees, for example: Lokomotivi Tbilisi – Guram Shavdia, Zaur Chubinidze; Torpedo Kutaisi – Guram Nishnianidze; Dinamo Tbilisi – Giorgi (Jora) Chumburidze, Guram Kochiashvili, Dodik Khundadze, Guram Petriashvili, Kartlos Tsintsadze, Nodar Kiknadze.

Margveti Zestafoni (1990–2000)

In 1990 Georgian Football Federation leaves the Soviet Union's Football Federation. An Independent Georgian Football Federation is formed, that shortly after becomes a member of FIFA and UEFA, leading Georgian Clubs are engaged in National Championships.

In 1990 a new Football Club is founded in Zestafoni FC Margveti Zestafoni, that holds the position of "Metallurgi" in Pirveli League of the Georgian National Championship and from the very first year becomes a member of Umaglesi league.

In 1993 and 1996 years "Margveti" is the semi-finalist of the Georgian National Cup. In 1996 "Margveti" is the Vice-Champion of Georgia and participates in UEFA Cup Qualification Round. Unfortunately, due to financial problems, at the end of the 20th century the club broke up.

In total, in the years of 1991–1998 FC "Margveti" participated in Umaglesi League 8 National Championships, held 247 matches, won 98 of them, draw 43, lost – 106, difference in scores 397–443.

In 2006 "Margveti-2006" was founded in the lower division and recently in Meore Liga, but it is different (municipal) club.

Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Europe Notes
1990 Pirveli Liga 2 382837 1024487 Round of 32 N/A Promoted
1991 Umaglesi Liga 8 19838 323227
1991–92 Umaglesi Liga 8 38141113 605853 Round of 16
1992–93 Umaglesi Liga 6 3215512 495450 Semi-finals
1993–94 Umaglesi Liga 8 3815716 716820/18
1994–95 Umaglesi Liga 9 3010614 355336 Round of 32
1995–96 Umaglesi Liga 2 302226 853768 Semi-finals
1996–97 Umaglesi Liga 7 3012216 446638 Quarter-finals UEFA Cup Preliminary round
1997–98 Umaglesi Liga 16 302721 217513 Round of 32 Relegated
1998–99 Pirveli liga 2 241842 782458 Round of 32
1999–00 Pirveli liga West Group A 1 221840 711858 Round of 16

Metalurgi Zestafoni (1999–2004)

As FC Margveti Zestafoni faced financial problem and relegated in 1998. A new club using the city legend team name Metallurgi Zestafoni was formed in 1999. The club promoted to Umaglesi Liga in 2001. But the club faced financial problem and relegated in 2003. In 2003–04, the club finished bottom in Pirveli Liga and disestablished .

Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Europe Notes
1999–00 Pirveli liga West Group A 4 221255 422741 Round of 32
2000–01 Pirveli liga 2 321787 483142/38 Round of 16 Promoted
2001–2002 Umaglesi Liga 9 3291013 334437 Round of 16
2002–2003 Umaglesi Liga 12 326125 177919 Round of 32 Relegated
2003–04 Pirveli liga 16 302127 18877 Round of 32 Initially relegated, but after the merger with FC Zestafoni were promoted to the Umaglesi Liga

FC Zestafoni (2004–present)

On 18 June 2004, FC Zestafoni was incorporated. The club was invited to join Umaglesi Liga. Although, FC Metallurgi, FC Margveti and FC Zestafoni came from the same city, played on same stadium. They never met in the Umaglesi league and all clubs came from the succession of Metallurg Zestafoni.

Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Europe Notes
2004–05 Umaglesi Liga 5 3616515 384853 Runner-up  
2005–06 Umaglesi Liga 4 301875 442261 Runner-up  
2006–07 Umaglesi Liga 4 261691 551157 Runner-up  
2007–08 Umaglesi Liga 3 261853 561659 Winner Intertoto 1st Round
2008–09 Umaglesi Liga 4 3016410 432752 Quarter-finals UEFA Cup 1st qualifying round
2009–10 Umaglesi Liga 3 3619107 583367 Quarter-finals UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round
2010–11 Umaglesi Liga 1 362466 721978 Semi-finals UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round
2011–12 Umaglesi Liga 1 362475 733379 Runner-up 2011–12 UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round

UEFA Europa League Play-offs

2012–13 Umaglesi Liga 5 3212614 353842 Round of 16 2012–13 UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round
2013–14 Umaglesi Liga 2 321958 482362 Round of 16  
2014–15 Umaglesi Liga 16 306816 406126 Round of 16 UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round Expelled
2018 Regionuli Liga 4 281729 603323/30 Second round
2019 Regionuli Liga 2 272052 1002923/42 Round of 32 Promotion to Liga 4
2020 Liga 4 6 14446 222016 Second round
2021 Liga 4 2 362394 762741/37 Round of 32 Promotion to Liga 3
2022 Liga 3 15 304323 187715 Second round
2023 Liga 3 First round


Stadium

David Abashidze stadium was built by "Zestafoni Ferro-alloy Plant", started operating in 1952. Though a couple of matches were held on the stadium before its opening in 1951.

In 1952–1989 and 1999–2003 participant of Georgian Championship, FC Metallurgi held matches on the Zestafoni central stadium, in 1990–1998 it was a home stadium for FC Margveti.

Since 2004 FC Zestafoni is holding domestic matches on the stadium.

In 1981 reconstruction works were done on arena, west stand was roofed, east stand was constructed, after these works capacity of the Stadium increased to 8,000 seats.

In 2004, after establishing FC Zestafoni, central Stadium was repaired and is still being repaired to renew the arena and comply with international standards.

In 2005 works were done to renew the grass surface on the Stadium. Georgian workers have constructed new drainage system of German technology. Field is watered by a watering system of an American Company "Rainbird" (by the way this watering system was successfully used on 8 Stadiums during 2004 European Championship in Portugal).

On the David Abashidze Stadium (former Central) Stadium field surface "Natural Green Carpet" is made by the Ukrainian firm "Lidia-Park".

FC Zestafoni management is building a new base for the club. Many new football fields have been constructed in Zestafoni (among them one with an artificial surface). Relevant infrastructure is being made – work out rooms are being repaired, building of a new tribunes with personal seats is planned, along with the installment of a modern score-board.

Today capacity of the Stadium increased to 4,558 individual seats.

On 9 April 2010 the stadium was named after David Abashidze who contributed tremendously to the development and revival of football in Zestafoni.

Honors

Erovnuli Liga

Georgian Cup

Georgian Super Cup

  • Champions: 2011, 2012

Zestafonian Clubs in Georgian Umaglesi Liga

As of 12 April 2015
Club Seasons Years Matches Wins Draws Loses GF GA Points
FC Margveti Zestafoni 8 1991–1998 247 98 43 106 397 443 337
FC Metallurgi 2 2001–2003 64 15 11 38 50 123 56
FC Zestafoni 11 2004–2015 343 188 72 83 562 310 636
Total 21 1991–2015 654 301 126 227 1009 876 1029

FC Zestafoni. All competitions statistic

As of 12 April 2015
Competition Wins Draws Loses GF GA Points
Georgian Umaglesi Liga 188 72 83 562 310 636
Georgian Cup 40 15 14 123 51
Georgian Super Cup 1 1 1 3 2
UEFA Champions League 1 2 3 6 9
UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League 4 5 7 27 19
UEFA Intertoto Cup 1 0 1 2 3

European Cups

Season Competition Round Club Home Away
2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1Q Kazakhstan Tobol 2–0 0–3
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q Hungary Gyori ETO 1–2 1–1
2009–10 UEFA Europa League 1Q Northern Ireland Lisburn Distillery 6–0 5–1
2Q Sweden Helsingborgs 1–2 2–2
2010–11 UEFA Europa League 1Q San Marino Faetano 5–0 0–0
2Q Slovakia Dukla Banska Bystrica 3–0 0–1
3Q Ukraine Karpaty Lviv 0–1 0–1
2011–12 UEFA Champions League 2Q Moldova Dacia Chisinau 3–0 0–2
3Q Austria Sturm Graz 1–1 0–1
2011–12 UEFA Europa League PO Belgium Brugge 3–3 0–2
2012–13 UEFA Champions League 2Q Azerbaijan Neftchi Baku 2–2 0–3
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 2Q Slovakia Spartak Trnava 0–0 0–3

Goals in Georgian Umaglesi Liga

Topscorers

Name Position Country Years Goals
Nikoloz GelashviliForwardGeorgia (country)2008–201663
Jaba DvaliForwardGeorgia (country)2010–2012, 201455
Zurab IonanidzeForwardGeorgia (country)2005–200948
Rati TsinamdzgvrishviliForwardGeorgia (country)2008–201324
Tornike GorgiashviliMidfielderGeorgia (country)2005–201321
Gogi PipiaMidfielderGeorgia (country)2005–201121
Shota GrigalashviliMidfielderGeorgia (country)2009–201218

Topscorers by season

Season Name Goals
2004/05 Georgia (country) Zaza Zirakishvili 10
2005/06 Georgia (country) Zurab Ionanidze 17
2006/07 Georgia (country) Gogi Pipia 13
2007/08 Brazil Gilvan Gomes 12
2008/09 Georgia (country) Nikoloz Gelashvili 20
2009/10 Georgia (country) Nikoloz Gelashvili 16
2010/11 Georgia (country) Nikoloz Gelashvili 18
2011/12 Georgia (country) Jaba Dvali 20
2012/13 Georgia (country) Tornike Gorgiashvili 7
2013/14 Georgia (country) Nikoloz Sabanadze 8
2014/15 Georgia (country) Jaba Dvali 10
Goal N. Name Country Date
1 Giorgi Kurtsikidze Georgia (country) 2 August 2004
100 Zurab Ionanidze Georgia (country) 18 November 2006
200 Nikoloz Gelashvili Georgia (country) 2 November 2008
300 Nikoloz Gelashvili Georgia (country) 29 August 2010
400 Zaal Eliava Georgia (country) 14 December 2011
500 Giorgi Kukhianidze Georgia (country) 2 March 2014

Matches in Georgian Umaglesi Liga

As of 6 March 2015
Name Position Country Years Matches
Roin KvaskhvadzeGoalkeeperGeorgia (country)2005–13155
Aleks BenashviliMidfielderGeorgia (country)2005–13136
Giorgi KhidesheliDefenderGeorgia (country)2005–13, 2014126
Sevasti ToduaDefenderGeorgia (country)2005–10116
Tornike AptsiauriMidfielderGeorgia (country)2010–13114
Zurab IonanidzeForwardGeorgia (country)2005–10113
Tornike GorgiashviliMidfielderGeorgia (country)2005–13112
Jaba DvaliForwardGeorgia (country)2009–12, 2014110
Zaal EliavaDefenderGeorgia (country)2009–12108
Irakli DzariaMidfielderGeorgia (country)2005–11108
Nikoloz GelashviliForwardGeorgia (country)2007–11107
Shota GrigalashviliMidfielderGeorgia (country)2009–12101
Murtaz DaushviliMidfielderGeorgia (country)2005–1199

Current squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Georgia (country) GEO David Mtivlishvili
3 DF Georgia (country) GEO David Mosidze
5 DF Georgia (country) GEO Mirian Robakidze
6 MF Georgia (country) GEO George Vasadze
8 MF Georgia (country) GEO Ivane Khabelashvili
11 MF Georgia (country) GEO Archil Meskhi
13 GK Georgia (country) GEO Nika Jalaghonia
14 MF Georgia (country) GEO Nodar Gachechiladze
18 DF Georgia (country) GEO David Lomaia
20 FW Georgia (country) GEO Mathe Kvirkvia
21 MF Georgia (country) GEO Mikheil Vatcharadze
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 DF Georgia (country) GEO Phiruz Marakvelidze
25 MF Georgia (country) GEO Vazha Nemsadze
28 GK Georgia (country) GEO Gia Makhatadze
32 MF Georgia (country) GEO Pavle Khorguashvili
37 DF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Chikhradze
70 MF Georgia (country) GEO George Beridze
77 DF Georgia (country) GEO Lasha Mchedlishvili
80 MF Georgia (country) GEO Zviad Sikharulia
88 DF Georgia (country) GEO Malkhaz Gagoshidze
99 MF Georgia (country) GEO Guram Samushia

Management and Team's staff

Position Name
General Director Georgia (country) Jaba Dvali
Manager Georgia (country) Sergo Putkaradze
Head Coach Georgia (country) Levan Jokhadze
Assistant Georgia (country) Alexandre Putkaradze
Coach Georgia (country) Giga Nikabadze

Managers

  • Moldova Vladimir Zemlianoi (18 June 2004 – 18 September 2004)
  • Georgia (country) Zaza Gurielidze (20 September 2004 – 2 October 2004)
  • Georgia (country) Teimuraz Makharadze (5 Oct 2004 – 14 October 2005)
  • Georgia (country) Koba Zhorzhikashvili (15 Oct 2005 – 12 November 2005)
  • Georgia (country) Teimuraz Makharadze (13 Nov 2005 – 30 March 2006)
  • Georgia (country) Koba Zhorzhikashvili (31 March 2006 – 30 May 2006)
  • Georgia (country) Merab Kochlashvili (1 June 2006 – 30 August 2006)
  • Georgia (country) Teimuraz Makharadze (1 September 2006 – 30 November 2008)
  • Georgia (country) Gia Geguchadze (1 Dec 2008 – 16 August 2011)
  • Georgia (country) Giorgi Chiabrishvili (18 Aug 2011 – 12 September 2012)
  • Georgia (country) Davit Mujiri and Zaza Zamtaradze (14 September 2012 – 10 December 2012)
  • Georgia (country) Kakhaber Kacharava (13 Dec 2012 – 31 May 2013)
  • Serbia Ratko Dostanić (15 July 2013 – 1 November 2013)
  • Georgia (country) Gia Geguchadze (5 Nov 2013 – 31 December 2014)
  • Georgia (country) Giorgi Mikadze (2015)
  • Georgia (country) Guram Mazmishvili (2018)
  • Georgia (country) Malkhaz Gongadze (2018-2020)
  • Georgia (country) Levan Jokhadze (2020)

References

  1. "Official website". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
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