FC Gagra () is a Georgian professional football club which competes in the Erovnuli Liga, the first tier of Georgian football.
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,Displaced Georgians keep memories alive with soccer in exile - Eurasianet 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
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. In the 2008–09 season, the team played in the top league, but were to be relegated in the end. Gagra avoided relegation only after higher placed teams withdrew from the league.
Prolific decade, 2011–21 Gagra won the 2010–11 Pirveli Liga season, and became the winner of the Georgian Cup by defeating three-time winners Torpedo Kutaisi 1–0 after extra time.
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.
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.
As a three-time finalist and two-time winner of the Cup final within these 10 years, 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. 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.
Two years later, Gagra improved their all-time highest league position by finishing in top half of the table.
Records and statistics League and cup history Season League Georgian Cup Europe Top goalscorer Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League2005/062nd33419114492268Round of 16 - 2006/072nd33418610523660First round - 2007/082nd East1271665593654First round - 2008/091st9307716234828Round of 32 - 2009/101st10365922305924Round of 16 - Giorgi Gabedava102010/112nd1322363731975Winners - 2011/121st10369720355334Semi-finalEL - 2QLevan Sharikadze52012/132nd43316512634653Round of 16 - John Jeremiah202013/142nd4241194442542First round - Gogita Gogatishvili102014/152nd33515515594450First round - Nika Tsotskhalashvili82015/162nd53416414543852 - - Nika Magrakvelidze1320162nd216943292128First round - Levan Papava1320172nd53616515463853Fifth round - Nikoloz Khintibidze1520182nd336161010504158Runners-Up - Rati Tsatskrialashvili16 20192nd53613815464247Round of 16 -Zviad Metreveli 5 20202nd318783241029Winners -Giorgi Ivaniadze520212nd2362295742775Round of 8 CL 1QTamaz Makatsaria2320221st9369918365736Round of 32 Tamaz Makatsaria, Teimuraz Shonia620231st73610818476538Round of 32 Zurab Museliani1720241st8 3611520365338Semifinals Giorgi Kharebashvili1120251st536127174455433rd round Giorgi Kharebashvili7
Notes
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, 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.
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
(on loan from Dynamo Kyiv)
Club officials Personnel PositionStaffHead coachIrakli Maisuradze (caretaker)Assistant head coachGiorgi Tkeshelashvili Zviad MetreveliGoalkeeping coach Irakli ShengeliaFitness coachKhvicha Khorava
Club executives OfficeNamePresident Besik ChikhradzeExecutive chairman Victoria DurglishviliTechnical Director Davit Gelashvili
Shirt sponsors and manufacturers PeriodKit manufacturerShirt partner2010– 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 (2023–2024) Vladimer Khachidze (2024-2025) Željko Ljubenović (2025–2026)
Notable players Georgian national team member Tornike Okriashvili started his career as a professional player in this club in 2009–10, before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk on loan.
References
External links Official Site Profile at uefa.com FC Gagra Results