Otar Gabelia

Otar Gabelia (Georgian: ოთარ ამბროსის ძე გაბელია; born 24 March 1953) is a Georgian football manager and a former player. He was a long-time goalkeeper for Dinamo Tbilisi. Winner of the Best Soviet Goalkeeper Award (1979), Gabelia is regarded by pundits as one of the best Georgian goalkeepers of all time.

Otar Gabelia

Personal information
Full name	Otar Ambrosis dze Gabelia
Date of birth	(1953-03-24) 24 March 1953 (age 72)
Place of birth	Zugdidi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1970–1971	Dinamo Zugdidi
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1972–1973	Dinamo Sokhumi	41	(0)
1974–1976	Torpedo Kutaisi	109	(0)
1977–1982	Dinamo Tbilisi	129	(0)
1983–1984	Torpedo Kutaisi	29	(0)
1985–1990	Dinamo Tbilisi	142	(0)
International career
1979	USSR	1	(0)
Managerial career
1990–1992	Odishi Zugdidi
1992–1993	Alazani Gurjaani
1993–1995	Duruji Kvareli
1995–1996	Algeti Marneuli
1997–1999	TSU Tbilisi
2001–2002	Merani Tbilisi
2004–2005	Torpedo Kutaisi
2009–2011	Georgia U-21
2016	Zugdidi
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Gabelia spent his club career at Dinamo Zugdidi, playing from 1970 to 1971, at Dinamo Sokhumi, from 1972 to 1973, at Torpedo Kutaisi, from 1974 to 1976 and from 1983 to 1984, at Dinamo Tbilisi, from 1977 to 1982 and from 1985 to 1989.^[1]

He won the Soviet championship in 1978 and Soviet Cup in 1979 and was named Best Soviet Goalkeeper in 1979.^[2] He was known for his emotional style of play with excellent reaction.

In 1981 he won UEFA Cup Winners Cup, which was the biggest achievement of his sport career.

International career

Gabelia played his only game for USSR on 21 November 1979 in a friendly against West Germany.

Honours

Dinamo Tbilisi

• Soviet Top League: 1978
• Soviet Cup: 1979
• UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1981

Individual

• Soviet Goalkeeper of the Year: 1979^[3]