Murtaz Shelia

Murtaz Shelia (born 25 March 1969) is a Georgian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He was capped 29 times for the Georgia national team between 1994 and 1998. His clubs included Dinamo Tbilisi, 1. FC Saarbrücken, Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz, Manchester City and Lokomotivi Tbilisi.

Murtaz Shelia
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-03-25) 25 March 1969
Place of birth Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, then Soviet Union
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 Amirani Ochamchire 28 (3)
1991–1994 Dinamo Tbilisi 74 (2)
1994 1. FC Saarbrücken 18 (1)
1995 Dinamo Tbilisi 15 (3)
1995–1997 Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz 62 (9)
1997–2000 Manchester City 15 (2)
2000 Dinamo Tbilisi 3 (1)
2000–2001 Lokomotivi Tbilisi 7 (2)
International career
1994–1998 Georgia 29 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

With Dinamo Tbilisi, Shelia formed part of a Georgian league championship winning team for five years in a row, from 1991 to 1995.[1] In 1995, he joined Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz of the Russian league, where, as one of five Georgians on the books of the North Ossetians, he helped the club win the Russian league title in his first season.[2]

Two years later Shelia joined English club Manchester City, where his former Dinamo Tbilisi team-mate Georgi Kinkladze was the star player.[3] He marked his debut with a goal at Birmingham City, though Manchester City lost the match 2–1.[4] Six weeks later he was joined in defence by another Georgian, Kakhaber Tskhadadze, but as the season reached its conclusion injuries restricted Shelia's appearances, and he scored just once more against Nottingham Forest.[5] At the end of the season Manchester City were relegated, entering the third tier for the first time in their history. The following season Shelia made just three appearances before sustaining a career-threatening injury against Reading in October 1998, his final appearance for the club.

In 2000, he was released from his contract by Dinamo Tbilisi. After briefly attempting a comeback with Lokomotivi Tbilisi, he retired in 2001.

International career

With the Georgia national team Shelia won 1998 Malta International Football Tournament.[6]

References
  1. "Georgia - Championship Winning Teams". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  2. "Georgia's football frailties". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
  3. Buckley, Andy; Burgess, Richard (2000). Blue Moon Rising: The Fall and Rise of Manchester City. Bury: Milo. ISBN 0-9530847-4-4. p101, 149
  4. James, Gary (2006). Manchester City - The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0. pp. 462–3
  5. "Man City 2 Nottm Forest 3". Sporting Life. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  6. "Malta vs Georgia, 10 February 1998".


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