Jaba Dvali

Jaba Dvali (born 8 February 1985) is a Georgian former football player and current manager.

Jaba Dvali

Personal information
Date of birth	(1985-02-08) 8 February 1985 (age 40)
Place of birth	Tbilisi, Georgia
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Zestaponi (General Director)
Youth career
2000–2001	Tbilisi
2001–2002	Norchi Dinamoeli
2002–2004	Dinamo Tbilisi
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2007	Dinamo Tbilisi	48	(23)
2005–2006	→ Sioni (loan)	15	(11)
2006–2007	→ Chikhura (loan)	11	(2)
2007	→ Olimpi (loan)	2	(0)
2007–2009	Dacia Chişinău	48	(20)
2009–2012	Zestaponi	98	(45)
2012–2014	Dinamo Tbilisi	51	(27)
2014	→ Qarabağ (loan)	5	(0)
2014	Zestaponi	12	(10)
2014–2016	Dacia Chișinău	5	(1)
2015	→ Saburtalo (loan)	8	(2)
2016	→ Sapovnela (loan)	9	(0)
2016–2017	Tskhinvali	11	(7)
2017–2018	Sioni	48	(23)
2018	Telavi	9	(0)
2019	Chiatura
2020	Zestaponi	13	(8)
2022	Vazisubani
International career‡
2012	Georgia	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 26 December 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 February 2013

Dvali has played in three countries as a forward. He is the four-time winner of the national league and two-time winner of the Georgian Cup. Dvali was a main goalscorer at Zestaponi during their "golden time" when the club twice in a row won the national league. He is also a member of the 100 club of Georgian players with a hundred and more goals.

Career

Dvali started his professional career at Dinamo Tbilisi. After being loaned to three clubs, he moved to Moldovan side Dacia.

He spent three prolific seasons at Zestaponi during the height of their success in the early 2010s. Dvali personally played a vital role in the club. He became a top goalscorer of the league in 2011–12.^[1]

While at Dinamo Tbilisi, Dvali scored his 100th goal in the top division against Torpedo on 4 May 2013, entering the topscorers' club.^[2]

In January 2014, Dvali agreed to join Azerbaijan Premier League side FK Qarabağ on a six-month loan deal.^[3][4] In June 2014, at the end of Dvali's loan deal with Qarabağ, he signed a 2-year contract with Zestaponi in Georgia.^[5][6] In December 2014, Dvali signed 2-year contract with Dacia Chișinău which came into force on 20 January 2015.^[7]

Between 2015 and 2019 Dvali played for five domestic clubs. Especially noteworthy during these short-term stints was his great contribution to Sioni's promotion to the Erovnuli Liga, including in a 3–2 play-off victory over Dinamo Batumi where Dvali scored a hat-trick.^[8]

In March 2020, Dvali returned to football after a year-long pause as director general of Zestaponi. At one point in 2021, when this fourth-tier club was plagued with injuries and suspensions, he appeared in the starting line-up and even scored from the penalty spot.^[9]

Along with the management at the club, Dvali also took charge of Zestaponi Youth Academy.^[10]

Honours

Club

• Dinamo Tbilisi
  • Georgian Premier League: 2004–05, 2012–13
  • Georgian Cup: 2003–04
  • Georgian Super Cup: Runner-up 2013–14
• Zestaponi
  • Georgian Premier League: 2010–11, 2011–12
  • Georgian Cup: 2012–13, Runner-up 2011–12
  • Georgian Super Cup: 2011–12
• Dacia Chișinău
  • Moldovan National Division Runner-up: 2007–08, 2008–09
  • Moldovan Cup Runner-up: 2008–09
• Qarabağ
  • Azerbaijan Premier League: 2013–14

Individual

• Georgian Premier League top scorer (2): 2005/2006 (21 goals), 2011/2012 (20 goals)
• Author of first "UEFA Europa League" hat-trick.^[11]

Goals at European cups UCL&UEL

09–07–09 Zestaponi 6–0 Lisburn Distillery (3)

23–07–09 Helsingborg 2–2 Zestaponi (1)

01–07–10 Zestaponi 5–0 Faetano (2)

15–07–10 Zestaponi 3–0 Dukla (2)

13–07–11 Zestaponi 3–0 Dacia (2)

18–08–11 Zestaponi 3–3 Club Brugge (1)

24–07–12 Zestaponi 2–2 Neftçi (1)

16–07–13 Dinamo Tbilisi 6–1 EB / Streymur (1)

23–07–13 EB / Streymur 1–3 Dinamo Tbilisi (1)

Career statistics

As of 7 April 2014^[12][13]

Club performance			League		Cup		SuperCup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2004–05	Dinamo Tbilisi	Umaglesi Liga	23	9			-		3	0	26	9
2005–06	Sioni Bolnisi (loan)		15	11			-		-		15	11
	Dinamo Tbilisi		12	10			-		-		12	10
2006–07			11	3			-				11	3
	Chikhura Sachkhere (loan)		11	2			-		-		11	2
2007–08	Metalurgi Rustavi (loan)		2	0			-		2	0	4	0
2007–08	Dacia Chișinău	Divizia Naţională	32	13			-				32	13
2008–09			16	7			-		2	0	18	7
2009–10	Zestaponi	Umaglesi Liga	33	12	3	2	-		3	4	39	18
2010–11			34	12	4	1	-		6	4	44	17
2011–12			31	20	7	4	-		6	3	44	27
2012–13			0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	2	1
	Dinamo Tbilisi		27	20	9	2	-		-		29	22
2013–14			17	5	1	0	1	0	5	2	24	7
2013–14	Qarabağ (loan)	Azerbaijan Premier League	5	0	0	0	-		-		5	0
Total	Georgia		216	104	24	9	1	0	27	14	268	127
	Moldova		48	20			-		2	0	50	20
	Azerbaijan		5	0	0	0	-		-		5	0
Career total			269	124	24	9	1	0	29	14	323	147