FC Gagra

FC Gagra (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი გაგრა) is a Georgian professional football club which competes in the Erovnuli Liga, the first tier of Georgian football.

Gagra

Full name	Football Club Gagra
Founded	2004; 21 years ago (2004)
Ground	David Petriashvili Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia
Capacity	2,500
President	Besik Chikhradze
Manager	Giorgi Oniani
League	Erovnuli Liga
2024	8th of 10
Home colours Away colours

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

Gagra players in 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]

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

Notes

1. Beaten by Tskhinvali 2–1 after extra time in promotion play-offs
2. Lost to Chikhura 2–1 after extra time in promotion play-offs
3. Beaten by Spartaki Tskhinvali 1–0 in promotion play-offs
4. Lost to Sioni 4–0 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
5. Lost to Torpedo 3–1 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
6. Defeated Shukura 1–0 on aggregate in promotion play-offs
7. Beat Spaeri on penalties in relegation play-offs
8. Beat Sioni on penalties in relegation playoffs

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 4 May 2025^[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.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  BLR Roman Stepanov 2 DF  BRA Augusto 3 DF  GEO Otar Chochia 6 MF  GEO Mate Tsintsadze 7 MF  GEO Otar Gagnidze 8 MF  GEO Giorgi Papuashvili 9 FW  GEO Giorgi Gabedava 10 MF  GEO Tornike Okriashvili 11 FW  GEO Davit Gotsiridze (on loan from Dinamo Tbilisi) 13 DF  GEO Levan Gegetchkori 14 DF  GEO Zurab Chavchanidze 15 DF  GEO Giorgi Chekhani 18 MF  MLI Abdouramane Ouologuem

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW  GEO Goga Gogoladze 22 DF  BRA Pedro Borges 23 GK  GEO Aleksandre Dadeshkelia 24 DF  CIV Doueugui Mala 25 MF  BRA Wanderson 27 GK  UKR Ihor Lytovka 28 DF  GEO Giga Shainidze 30 MF  GEO Gia Nadareishvili 33 MF  GEO Giorgi Kharebashvili 34 MF  GEO Luka Chikhladze 37 DF  GEO Giorgi Rekhviashvili 39 FW  GEO Ilia Katsiashvili — FW  GEO Nika Kacharava

Personnel

Position	Staff
Head coach	Giorgi Oniani
Assistant head coach	Aleksandre Japaridze
Goalkeeping coach	Irakli Sengelia

Management

Office	Name
President	Besik Chikhradze

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt partner
2010–	PUMA	Sandora

Honours

• Erovnuli Liga 2
  • Winners (2): 2007–08, 2010–11
  • Runners-up (2): 2016, 2021
  • Third place (5): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2014–15, 2018, 2020
• Georgian Cup
  • Winners (2): 2010–11, 2020

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–present )

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.