FC Gagra
Football club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
FC Gagra (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი გაგრა) is a Georgian professional football club which competes in the Erovnuli Liga, the first tier of Georgian football.
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| Full name | Football Club Gagra | ||
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| Founded | 2004 | ||
| Ground | David Petriashvili Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 | ||
| President | Besik Chikhradze | ||
| Manager | Željko Ljubenović | ||
| League | Erovnuli Liga | ||
| 2025 | 5th of 10 | ||
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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 2010–11 Pirveli Liga 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 their 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 the David Kipiani Cup was 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-time finalist and two-time 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]
Two years later, Gagra improved their all-time highest league position by finishing in top half of the table.
Records and statistics
League and cup history
| Season | League | Georgian Cup | Europe | Top goalscorer | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Name | League | |||
| 2005/06 | 2nd | 3[a] | 34 | 19 | 11 | 4 | 49 | 22 | 68 | Round of 16 | - | ||
| 2006/07 | 2nd | 3[b] | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 52 | 36 | 60 | First round | - | ||
| 2007/08 | 2nd East | 1↑[c] | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 59 | 36 | 54 | First round | - | ||
| 2008/09 | 1st | 9 | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 48 | 28 | Round of 32 | - | ||
| 2009/10 | 1st | 10↓ | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 30 | 59 | 24 | Round of 16 | - | Giorgi Gabedava | 10 |
| 2010/11 | 2nd | 1↑ | 32 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 73 | 19 | 75 | Winners | - | ||
| 2011/12 | 1st | 10↓ | 36 | 9 | 7 | 20 | 35 | 53 | 34 | Semi-final | EL - 2Q | Levan Sharikadze | 5 |
| 2012/13 | 2nd | 4 | 33 | 16 | 5 | 12 | 63 | 46 | 53 | Round of 16 | - | John Jeremiah | 20 |
| 2013/14 | 2nd | 4 | 24 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 44 | 25 | 42 | First round | - | Gogita Gogatishvili | 10 |
| 2014/15 | 2nd | 3 | 35 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 59 | 44 | 50 | First round | - | Nika Tsotskhalashvili | 8 |
| 2015/16 | 2nd | 5 | 34 | 16 | 4 | 14 | 54 | 38 | 52 | - | - | Nika Magrakvelidze | 13 |
| 2016 | 2nd | 2 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 21 | 28 | First round | - | Levan Papava | 13 |
| 2017 | 2nd | 5 | 36 | 16 | 5 | 15 | 46 | 38 | 53 | Fifth round | - | Nikoloz Khintibidze | 15 |
| 2018 | 2nd | 3[d] | 36 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 50 | 41 | 58 | Runners-Up | - | Rati Tsatskrialashvili | 16 |
| 2019 | 2nd | 5 | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 46 | 42 | 47 | Round of 16 | - | Zviad Metreveli | 5 |
| 2020 | 2nd | 3[e] | 18 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 10 | 29 | Winners | - | Giorgi Ivaniadze | 5 |
| 2021 | 2nd | 2↑[f] | 36 | 22 | 9 | 5 | 74 | 27 | 75 | Round of 8 | CL 1Q | Tamaz Makatsaria | 23 |
| 2022 | 1st | 9[g] | 36 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 36 | 57 | 36 | Round of 32 | Tamaz Makatsaria, Teimuraz Shonia | 6 | |
| 2023 | 1st | 7 | 36 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 47 | 65 | 38 | Round of 32 | Zurab Museliani | 17 | |
| 2024 | 1st | 8[h] | 36 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 36 | 53 | 38 | Semifinals | Giorgi Kharebashvili | 11 | |
| 2025 | 1st | 5 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 44 | 55 | 43 | 3rd round | Giorgi Kharebashvili | 7 | |
Notes
- Beaten by Tskhinvali 2–1 after extra time in promotion play-offs
- Beaten by Spartaki Tskhinvali 1–0 in promotion play-offs
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]
- As of match played 15 July 2021
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Europa League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 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 11 March, 2026[15]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials
Personnel
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Željko Ljubenović |
| Assistant head coach | Giorgi Tkeshelashvili |
| Zviad Metreveli | |
| Goalkeeping coach | Irakli Shengelia |
| Fitness coach | Khvicha Khorava |
Club executives
| Office | Name |
|---|---|
| President | Besik Chikhradze |
| Executive chairman | Victoria Durglishvili |
| Technical Director | Davit Gelashvili |
Shirt sponsors and manufacturers
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt partner |
|---|---|---|
| 2010– | PUMA | Sandora |
Honours
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)
- Giorgi Oniani (2023–2025)
Željko Ljubenović (2025–)
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.