FC Sioni (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი სიონი) is a Georgian professional football club based in Bolnisi. They compete in Erovnuli Liga Liga 2, the second tier of the Georgian league system.
The team has won the league title on one occasion, in 2005/06. Sioni play their home matches at local stadium named after Tamaz Stepania.
History The football club in Bolnisi was founded in 1936. For years they took part in Georgian domestic competitions under the name Madneuli. While being in the second division in early 1990s, the team emerged among the candidates challenging for the top league.
For the first time Sioni participated in Umaglesi Liga in the 1995/96 season and after initial several years made significant progress towards joining ambitious clubs vying for titles.
In 2002, they reached the Cup final, although failed to prevail over Dinamo Tbilisi.
In the 2003/04 season, Sioni and WIT Georgia shared the first position in the league, and the title was decided in a championship play-off. WIT won the game 2–0, but a crowd violence during the match led UEFA to ban Sioni from the UEFA Cup participation.
The third attempt two years later turned out successful. The club set a remarkable unbeaten home record by winning 14 games out of 15 and ended the season five points clear of a main rival. Kakha Tskhadadze became Manager of the Year, while striker Koka Mikuchadze, who scored 19 goals, was named in the symbolic team of the season. Sioni represented Georgia in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07, where they defeated FK Baku from Azerbaijan in the first qualifying round, but were eliminated by Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia in the second stage, losing 2–0 both home and away.
As champions, in January 2007 Sioni participated in the CIS Cup in Moscow where they defeated two opponents out of three, although failed to qualify for the play-offs on goal difference.
Sioni achieved another league success in 2013/14. Under Vladimir Burduli the club, strengthened by some experienced players, including former national team members Valeri Abramidze and Revaz Kemoklidze, won the bronze medals. Two years later Sioni played in the national Cup final for the second time in fifteen years. Soon their performance deteriorated, which saw the team relegated to Liga 2 for the first time in the last two decades.
Following a two-year tenure in the second division, Sioni secured another promotion in 2021. The team topped the league from the very beginning and, although slipped up in midseason which resulted in the sacking of the manager, eventually they comfortably won the championship contest.
Sioni spent the entire 2022 season in battles to move out of the drop zone. Due to poor results, the club twice replaced managers during the year. At the end of the season, they lost both play-off ties to Samtredia and suffered a third relegation in seven seasons.
Seasons Domestic leagues + Season League Pos Top scorersGoals Cup 1990 2nd 14/20 Round of 16 1991 2nd18/18 Quarterfinals 1991/92 3rd ― 1992/93 2nd 5/16 Round of 16 1993/94 2nd, East 12/18 ― 1994/95 2nd, East 1/16 1st round 1995/96 1st 9/16 Round of 16 1996/97 1st 9/16 Quarterfinals 1997/98 1st 13/16 Round of 16 1998/99 1st 13/16 Round of 16 1999/2000 1st6/16 2nd round 2000/01 1st 8/12 Round of 16 2001/02 1st 8/12 Shalva Isiani 12 Round of 16 2002/03 1st5/12 Levan Shavgulidze 11 Runners-up 2003/04 1st2/12 Boris Goncharov17 Round of 16 2004/05 1st7/10Davit Gogoladze 8 Round of 16 2005/06 1st1/16Akaki Mikuchadze 19Semifinals 2006/07 1st6/14 Semifinals 2007/08 1st8/14 1st round 2008/09 1st5/11 Quarterfinals 2009/10 1st6/10 Aleksandre Gogoberishvili 6Round of 16 2010/11 1st8/10 Revaz Gotsiridze 7 Quarterfinals 2011/12 1st12/12 Giorgi Kutsurua 4Round of 16 2012/13 1st10/12 Giorgi Kakhelishvili, Valeri Abramidze, Lado Akhalaia 4 Semifinals 2013/14 1st3/12 Rezo Jikia 6Quarterfinals 2014/15 1st13/16 Data Sitchinava 112nd round 2015/16 1st5/16 Dimitri Tatanashvili 11Runners-up 2016 1st6/14 Davit Volkovi 6 2nd round 2017 2nd3/10 Jaba Dvali 21 Round of 16 2018 1st8/10 Davit Kirkitadze 63rd round 2019 1st9/10 Jaba Ugulava 9Round of 16 2020 2nd7/10 Zviad Sikharulia 42nd Round 2021 2nd1/10 Data Sitchinava 20 Round of 16 2022 1st8/10 Nika Khorkheli 9 Round of 32 2023 2nd4/10Vano Khabelashvili Gocha Tsirdava9Round of 16 2024 2nd3/10 Data Sitchinava213rd round 2025 2nd5/10 Data Sitchinava20Round of 16
Notes
Overall
Seasons spent in Georgian leagues since 1990:
● Umaglesi Liga / Erovnuli Liga (1st tier): 25
● Pirveli Liga / Erovnuli Liga 2 (2nd tier): 12
● Meore Liga (3rd tier): 1
Correct up to 2026 season
European football Season Competition Round Club Home Away 2003–04 UEFA Cup QR FK Púchov 0–3 0–3 2006–07 UEFA Champions League 1Q FC Baku 2–0 0–1 2Q PFC Levski Sofia 0–2 0–2 2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1Q Flamurtari 2–3 2–1
Current squad As of 17 March 2026
Managers
Kakha Tskhadadze (Dec 31, 2005 – Aug 31, 2006) Giorgi Kipshidze (Jul 1, 2007 – Jun 30, 2008) Otar Korgalidze (Jul 1, 2008 – Jun 30, 2009) Temur Makharadze (Jul 1, 2008 – Jun 30, 2010) Giorgi Kipshidze (Jul 1, 2010 – Mar 19, 2011) Khvicha Kasrashvili (Mar 18, 2011–1?) Vakhtang Chagelishvili (Jul 1, 2011–1?) Levan Bajelidze (Sept 15, 2011 – Jan 12, 2012) Khvicha Kasrashvili (Jan 15 – Aug 27, 2012) Armaz Jeladze (Aug 28, 2012 – Jun 1, 2013) Giorgi Kiknadze (Jun 1, 2013–Oct, 2013) Vladimir Burduli (Oct, 2013–) Koba Zhorzhikashvili (2017–2018) Teimuraz Shalamberidze (2018–2019) Davit Kokiashvili (February - July 2020) Varlam Kilasonia (July 2020 - June 2021) Giorgi Daraselia (June 2021 - March 2022) Ucha Sosiashvili (March - November 2022) Giorgi Chelidze (November - December 2022) Koba Zhorzhikashvili (February - June 2023) Giorgi Okropiridze (June 2023 - March 2024) Giorgi Devdariani (March – June 2024) Gaga Kirkitadze (June – September 2024) Giorgi Chelidze (October 2024 – May 2025) Varlam Kilasonia (May - December 2025) Ucha Sosiashvili (January - August 2026) Armaz Jeladze (since August 2026)
Honours Umaglesi Liga/Erovnuli Liga Winners (1): 2005–06 Runners-up (1): 2003-04 Third place (1): 2013-14 Pirveli Liga/Erovnuli Liga 2 Winners (2): 1994–95 , 2021 Third place (2): 2017, 2024 Georgian Cup Runners-up (2): 2002-03, 2015-16
Sponsors Rich Metals Group, engaged in mining activities near Bolnisi, signed a first sponsorship contract with Sioni in 2016.
Name While Sioni is a Georgian equivalent of Zion, the football club is named after Bolnisi Sioni, the fifth century cathedral located near the current municipal centre.
References
External links
FC Bolnisi Results on Flashscore Team profile on Soccerway