FC Metalurgi Zestafoni

Metalurgi were formed in the city of Zestaponi in 1999. Bearing the name of a Soviet-time club existing in the city for more than 60 years since 1937, they made a debut in the 2nd division the same year with both clubs of the city, Metalurgi and Margveti, drawn in Group A.

The team spent first two years in the 2nd division. In 2001, they finished the season as runners-up and secured automatic promotion to the top flight.^[1]

Following the first phase of the 2001–02 season, Metalurgi took part in relegation round. They managed to seal a place for next season, although a year later ended up rooted to the bottom being winless during the entire relegation campaign.^[2]

Their woes continued back in the second league. Severe financial shortages badly affected Metalurgi who remained rock bottom during the entire 2003–04 season. With just seven points from 30 games, the team dropped out of the Pirveli Liga^[3] and soon suspended their activities.

During this five-year period, Metalurgi played 152 league and cup games in total, including 64 matches in the top tier.^[4]

By 2004, Margveti, too, had already ceased to exist due to bankruptcy, but another local club, FC Zestaponi, was rising who would shortly make the city one of the centers of Georgian football for nearly a decade.^[5]

Zviad Endeladze, the only Georgian player who has won the European Golden Shoe, was a member of Metalurgi during the team's two-year tenure in the Umaglesi Liga. He scored 17 goals in 32 matches for the club.^[6]

Pirveli Liga

• Runners-up: 2000–01