FC Guria Lanchkhuti
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| Founded | 1924 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground | Evgrapi Shevardnadze Stadium, Lanchkhuti, Georgia | |
| Capacity | 4,500 (3,030 seats) | |
| President | Saba Japharidze | |
| Head Coach | Aleksandre Koshkadze | |
| League | Liga 3 | |
| 2023 | Liga 3, 9th of 16 | |
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FC Guria is a Georgian association football club from Lanchkhuti, which competes in Liga 3, the third tier of the national league.
Being one of the strongest Georgian teams in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Guria played in the Soviet Top league, and also won the national Cup. They later played fifteen seasons in the Umaglesi Liga, twice claiming silver medals.
History[edit]
Early period[edit]
Formed in 1924[1] as FC Kimi, the team ceased to exist after the start of World War 2 and resumed functioning in 1952 under the name "Kolmeurne".
In 1960 the club was renamed as Guria. The next year they gained a first title by becoming champions of the republican league. During the subsequent decade the team won the Georgian Cup three times and the domestic league two more times, in 1966 and 1971, which enabled them to advance to the Soviet Association football.[2]
1972–1979: in the Soviet second league[edit]
Starting from 1972 Guria played in the Second League, the third tier of the Soviet football league, for seven years.
| YEAR | M | W | D | L | GF–GA | Pts | FP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 17 | 46-49 | 31 | 13th |
| 1973 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 52-52 | 31 | 8th |
| 1974 | 38 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 56-53 | 37 | 11th |
| 1975 | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 62-47 | 41 | 3rd |
| 1976 | 38 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 67-34 | 52 | 1st* |
| 1977 | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 91-57 | 51 | 4th |
| 1978 | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 82-48 | 59 | 2nd |
| 1979 | 46 | 31 | 4 | 11 | 110-50 | 66 | 1st |
*Note: Lost promotion play-offs to Uralmash Sverdlovsk
Overall results shown by Guria in II League are the following:
| M | W | D | L | GF–GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 314 | 151 | 66 | 97 | 566:390 |
Guria's remarkable progress was largely attributed to Shalva Kakabadze, who worked as head coach for record twenty years continuously from 1959 until 1980, and local government chairman Evgrapi Shevardnadze, brother of the Soviet Communist Party leader in Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze.[3]
1980-1986: Road to the top flight[edit]
After the winning season in 1979 Guria were promoted to the First League, where they played for another seven consecutive years.
| YEAR | M | W | D | L | GF–GA | Pts | FP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 68-73 | 46 | 11th |
| 1981 | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 50-56 | 44 | 14th |
| 1982 | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 48-67 | 37 | 18th |
| 1983 | 42 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 52-71 | 42 | 9th |
| 1984 | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 49-52 | 42 | 10th |
| 1985 | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 50-52 | 37 | 17th |
| 1986 | 46 | 28 | 5 | 13 | 80-66 | 61 | 1st |
The very fact of promotion to the Soviet Top League for the team representing a provincial town seemed amazing. Football fervour around Guria grew so high that in most cases not a single seat was available during their matches and some youngsters would climb up trees around the stadium to watch their favourite team. The pitch invasion during the 2–1 win over fierce rivals FC Daugava Riga resulted in disqualification of the stadium for three matches. For this reason the final home game of the season against Yuri Semin's Lokomotive Moscow (1-0) was held in Batumi in front of 20,000 spectators.[4]
Under head coach Begi Sikharulidze some players especially contributed to this huge achievement:[5] Besik Pridonashvili with all 46 games played and 27 goals scored; Teimuraz Chkhaidze - 44 (8); Murman Akopian - 43 (7); Badri Danelia - 43 (1); Levan Melikia - 41; Vakhtang Kopaleishvili - 40 (16); Sergey Shvetsov - 40 (1); Enuki Tevzadze - 39 (5); Tariel Ebanoidze - 37 (1); Gigla Imnadze - 36; Alexander Kondratiev - 36; Merab Tevzadze - 30 (1); Gia Giligashvili - 26; Karlo Mchedlidze - 12; Davit Ugrelidze - 11 (5).
1987: the Top league[edit]
Straight away after the promotion the football ground underwent a significant reconstruction and eventually the capacity of stadium in a town with 9,021 residents as of 1987 reached 22,000.[6]
Between 1983/84 and 1987/88 seasons the USSR occupied a second place after Italy in UEFA ranking,[7] therefore, the Soviet Top League was a tough challenge for Guria. Being regarded as a decent home team, Guria beat Kairat Alma-Ata 2–0, Neftchi 1–0, Dinamo Minsk 2–1, Dinamo Moscow 2-1 and Ararat Yerevan 2–0, also played goalless draws against Dinamo Kiev, Dinamo Tbilisi and future bronze medal holders Zalgiris, although poor results in away games doomed the club for relegation.
1988-89: Promotion battles[edit]
Guria did not succeed in a new promotion attempt, finishing in the 4th place in 1988, but the team still made headlines with a shock victory over Dinamo Kiev (2-1) in the Cup 1/16 finals.[8] The next year the Gurians once again displayed their powerful home run by winning all 21 games held in Lanchkhuti and earned a place in the Soviet Top League as runners-up of the 1989 season.[9]
However, Guria were no longer destined to play again in the Soviet championship. On 15 February 1990 Georgian Football Federation made a decision to break away from the Soviet Football Federation, withdraw all the teams from the Soviet leagues and form its own national championship with immediate effect.[10]
Since 1990: Georgian leagues[edit]
By entering Umaglesi Liga competition a new stage opened up for Guria. First several years they remained high-flying, winning the Georgian Cup title in 1990[11] and silver medals in 1990 and 1991. Later the decline started which saw the club moving up and down the first three divisions several times.
Their very name was subjected to changes, becoming Guria-Lokomotive-2 after the merger with Locomotive's reserve team in 2001, and Guria-2000 in 2008. In 2009 the team regained their popular name.
In the 2016 season Guria played in the top Georgian division, but within two years they slumped to Liga 3. Although the team managed to go up for 2019, their tenure there did not last longer than one season.
Throughout the shortened 2020 season Guria appeared poised for promotion. Yet, decisive last two games lost to direct rivals spelled failure for their main goal.[12] In contrast, a year later the team mostly stayed inside the drop zone, although due to the points picked up close to the end they barely escaped yet another relegation.
Seasons[edit]
Season League Pos P W D L GF GA Pts Cup 1987 Soviet Top League 16↓ 30 5 8 17 18 38 18 1988 Soviet First League 4 42 23 7 12 71 44 53 1989 Soviet First League 2↑ 42 27 9 6 78 39 63 1990 Umaglesi Liga 2 34 22 6 6 73 20 72 Winner 1991 Umaglesi Liga 2 19 14 4 1 38 15 46 — 1991/92 Umaglesi Liga 4 38 22 3 13 89 56 69 Round of 16 1992/93 Umaglesi Liga 12 32 12 2 18 37 57 38 Round of 16 1993/94 Umaglesi Liga West 2 14 9 0 5 36 22 27 Quarterfinals Champ.Group 7 18 5 2 11 30 50 17 1994/95 Umaglesi Liga 13 30 8 6 16 36 81 30 Quarterfinals 1995/96 Umaglesi Liga 13 30 9 0 21 35 74 27 Round of 32 1996/97 Umaglesi Liga 13 30 10 3 17 33 63 33 Round of 16 1997/98 Umaglesi Liga 14 30 6 9 15 30 58 27 Round of 16 1998/99 Umaglesi Liga 16↓ 30 3 4 23 34 87 13 Round of 32 1999/00 Pirveli Liga A 8 22 7 1 14 36 45 22 Round of 16 2000/01 Pirveli Liga 3 22 12 5 5 31 25 41 Fourth round Champ.Group 1↑ 2001/02 Umaglesi Liga 10↓ 22 3 6 13 14 44 15 Quarterfinals 2002/03 Pirveli Liga 12 30 9 7 14 32 44 34 Second round 2003/04 Pirveli Liga 10 30 13 6 11 38 37 45 First round 2004/05 Pirveli Liga 10 30 10 8 12 30 45 38 First round 2005/06 Pirveli Liga 9 34 14 5 15 50 47 47 Round of 32 2006/07 Pirveli Liga 15↓ 34 8 7 19 36 76 31 First round 2007/08 Meore Liga West 2↑ 22 15 6 1 49 17 51 — 2008/09 Pirveli Liga 6 14 7 2 5 24 21 23 Round of 16 2009/10 Pirveli Liga 4 28 16 5 7 53 32 53 First round 2010/11 Pirveli Liga 6 32 14 4 14 50 59 46 First round 2011/12 Pirveli Liga B 2 18 12 3 3 41 15 39 Round of 32 2012/13 Pirveli Liga A 1↑ 33 27 4 2 86 20 85 Quarterfinals 2013/14 Umaglesi Liga 6 32 12 0 20 31 53 36 Round of 16 2014/15 Umaglesi Liga 9 30 10 9 11 38 43 39 Round of 32 2015/16 Umaglesi Liga 11 30 6 9 15 28 49 27 Round of 16 2016 Umaglesi Liga White 6↓ 12 3 2 7 8 21 11 Round of 16 2017 Erovnuli Liga 2 8↓[a] 36 11 4 21 47 68 37 Round of 16 2018 Liga 3 3↑[b] 38 21 10 7 59 31 73 Round of 8 2019 Erovnuli Liga 2 8↓[c] 36 10 6 20 39 64 36 Round of 16 2020 Liga 3 5 18 8 2 8 26 30 26 First round 2021 11 26 8 5 13 33 44 29 Third round 2022 12 30 11 4 15 42 49 37 Quarterfinals 2023 9 30 11 6 13 44 55 39 Third round
Overall, seasons spent in Georgian leagues since 1990:
• Umaglesi Liga (1st tier): 15
• Pirveli Liga / Erovnuli Liga 2 (2nd tier): 14
• Meore Liga / Liga 3 (3rd tier): 6
Correct up to 2023 season
Club honours[edit]
- Georgian Soviet Championship:
- Winners: 1961, 1966, 1971
- Runners-up: 1960
- Georgian Soviet Cup:
- Winners: 1965, 1966, 1971
- Georgian Cup:
- Winners: 1990
- Pirveli Liga:
- Winners: 2000-01, 2012-2013 (West)
- Meore Liga:
- Runners-up: 2007-08
- Third place: 2018
Personal honours[edit]
Otar Korghalidze – Top scorers – 14 goals, 1991 season- Otar Korghalidze – Top scorers – 40 goals, 1991–92 season
- Zviad Endeladze – European Golden Boot – 40 goals, 1995-96 season (for Margveti Zestafoni)
In early 2020, by decree of the Georgian Ministry of Sport Begi Sikharulidze, Teimuraz Chkhaidze and Gigla Imnadze were awarded the Knight of Sport title for their distinguished contribution to Guria's victorious season in 1986.[13]
A year later Begi Sikharulidze was awarded the title Honorary Citizen of Lanchkhuti.[14]
Current squad[edit]
As of 12 March 2024[15]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players[edit]
Topscorers by season[edit]
| Season | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1966–67 |  Omar Pertenava
|
16 |
| 1967–68 | Vakhtang Dzidziguri
|
23 |
| 1968–69 | Vakhtang Dzidziguri
|
17 |
| 1969–70 | Vakhtang Dzidziguri
|
18 |
| 1970–71 | Vakhtang Dzidziguri
|
39 |
| 1971–72 | Vakhtang Dzidziguri
|
13 |
| 1972–73 | Joni Abaishvili
|
19 |
| 1973–74 | Vakhtang Dzidziguri
|
15 |
| 1974–75 | Revaz Sanaia
|
25 |
| 1975–76 | Besik Mchedlishvili
|
20 |
| 1976–77 |  Vasil Troian
|
18 |
| 1977–78 | Vasil Troian
|
15 |
| 1978–79 | Merab Megreladze
|
26 |
| 1979–80 | Merab Megreladze
|
20 |
| 1980–81 | Merab Megreladze
|
11 |
| 1981–82 | Temur Ebanoidze
|
9 |
| 1982–83 | Murtaz Akophiani
|
14 |
| 1983–84 | Vakhtang Kopaleishvili
|
13 |
| 1984–85 | Gia Tkebuchava
|
11 |
| 1985–86 | Besik Phridonashvili
|
27 |
| 1986–87 |  Viktor Khlus
|
5 |
| 1987–88 | Viktor Khlus
|
21 |
| 1988–89 | Merab Zhordania
|
25 |
| 1989–90 | Otar Korghalidze
|
21 |
| 1990–91 | Otar Korghalidze
|
14 |
| 1991–92 | Otar Korghalidze
|
40 |
Managers[edit]
- Givi Imnaishvili (1952–53)
- Vladimer Narimanidze (1954–55)
Viktor Berezhnoi (1956)- Boris Chitaia (1957–58)
- Shalva Kakabadze (1959–79)
- Aleqsandre Kotrikadze (1980)
- Murtaz Khurtsilava (1981–82)
- Shalva Kakabadze (1983–84)
- Begi Sikharulidze (1985–86)
- Aleqsandre Kotrikadze (1986)
Mykhaylo Fomenko (1987–90)- Gigla Imnadze (1990)
- Murtaz Khurtsilava (1990–93)
- Teimuraz Chkhiadze (1993–94)
- Gigla Imnadze (1994–95)
- Begi Sikharulidze (1995–96)
- Boris Dudarov (1996)
- Gigla Imnadze (1996–97)
- Gia Tavadze (1997)
- Avtandil Nariashvili (Aug 1997–??)
- Davit Makharadze (22 July 2013– 18 September 2013)
- Roman Pokora (Sep – Dec 2013)
- Davit Makharadze (Jan - Aug 2014)
- Temur Loria (Aug 2014 - Apr 2015)
- Gigla Imnadze (Apr - May 2015)
- Kakha Gogichaishvili (Aug - Sep 2015)
Badri Kvaratskhelia (Sep 2015)- Gia Chkhaidze (Oct - Dec 2015)
- Viktor Demidov (Feb - Apr 2016)
- Temur Makharadze (Apr- Aug 2016)
- Oleh Leshchynskyi (Aug - Nov 2016)
- Gigla Imnadze (Mar - May 2017)
- Gia Guruli (May - Oct 2017)
- Davit Makharadze (Oct 2017 Aug 2018)
- Giorgi Oniani (Aug - Oct 2018)
- Giga Imedaishvili (Oct - Dec 2018)
- Tengiz Pataraia (Mar - Apr 2019)
- Giga Imedaishvili (May 2019)
- Gela Sanaia (May - Aug 2019)
- Giorgi Chkhaidze (Aug 2019)
- Temur Loria (Sep 2019 - Mar 2020)
- Levan Khomeriki/Ivane Makharadze (Apr 2020 - Feb 2021)
- Giga Imedaishvili (Feb - Sep 2021)
- Giorgi Oniani (Oct 2021 – Jul 2022)
- Gigla Imnadze (Aug – Dec 2022)
- Davit Dighmelashvili (Jan – May 2023)
References[edit]
- ^ "Georgia - List of Foundation Dates".
- ^ Football 1987. Tbilisi: Georgian Federation of Sport reporters. p. 92.
- ^ ""ჩვენ ორნი ვართ ქვეყანაზე _ მე და ევგრაფ შევარდნაძე!"". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 25 January 2012.
- ^ ""რას ხედავ, ბიძია, მაქედან?!" _ ლანჩხუთის "გურიას" იუბილე". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 13 November 2011.
- ^ "Guria in 1986". teams.by.
- ^ "Первый чисто футбольный стадион в Высшей лиге СССР построили только в 1987-м (за два месяца!). Вы ни за что не угадаете, в каком городе". sports.ru (in Russian) 23 April 2020.
- ^ "UEFA ranking". mogiel.net.
- ^ "USSR 1988-89 Cup". wildstat.com.
- ^ "The Soviet First league in 1989". soccer365.ru.
- ^ "Грузия и Литва после обретения самостоятельности". ua.tribuna.com (in Russian) 23 March 2020.
- ^ "როგორ მოიპოვა ლანჩხუთელთა საყვარელმა გუნდმა "გურიის" სახელწოდება". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 16 March 2016.
- ^ "Liga 3 results in 2020". gff.ge.
- ^ ""სპორტის რაინდები" _ ლანჩხუთელთა გასული წლის საფეხბურთო აღიარება". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 10 January 2020.
- ^ "„გურიას" ლეგენდას ლანჩხუთის საპატიო მოქალაქის წოდება მიენიჭა". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Guria squad". soccerway.com.