FC Guria Lanchkhuti

Guria Lanchkhuti

Founded	1924
Ground	Evgrapi Shevardnadze Stadium, Lanchkhuti, Georgia
Capacity	4,500 (3,030 seats)
President	Saba Japharidze
Head Coach	Giga Imedaishvili
League	Liga 3
2023	Liga 3, 9th of 16
Home colours

FC Guria is a Georgian association football club from Lanchkhuti, which competes in Liga 3, the third tier of the national league.

Being one of the strongest Georgian teams in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Guria played in the Soviet Top league, and also won the national Cup. They later played fifteen seasons in the Umaglesi Liga, twice claiming silver medals.

History

Early period

Formed in 1924 ^[1] as FC Kimi, the team ceased to exist after the start of World War 2 and resumed functioning in 1952 under the name "Kolmeurne".

In 1960 the club was renamed as Guria. The next year they gained a first title by becoming champions of the republican league. During the subsequent decade the team won the Georgian Cup three times and the domestic league two more times, in 1966 and 1971, which enabled them to advance to the Soviet Association football. ^[2]

1972–1979: in the Soviet second league

Starting from 1972 Guria played in the Second League, the third tier of the Soviet football league, for seven years.

In II league after each season

YEAR	M	W	D	L	GF–GA	Pts	FP
1972	36	12	7	17	46-49	31	13th
1973	34	13	5	16	52-52	31	8th
1974	38	10	17	11	56-53	37	11th
1975	34	18	5	11	62-47	41	3rd
1976	38	21	10	7	67-34	52	1st*
1977	42	22	7	13	91-57	51	4th
1978	46	24	11	11	82-48	59	2nd
1979	46	31	4	11	110-50	66	1st

*Note: Lost promotion play-offs to Uralmash Sverdlovsk

Overall results shown by Guria in II League are the following:

M	W	D	L	GF–GA
314	151	66	97	566:390

Guria's remarkable progress was largely attributed to Shalva Kakabadze, who worked as head coach for record twenty years continuously from 1959 until 1980, and local government chairman Evgrapi Shevardnadze, brother of the Soviet Communist Party leader in Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze. ^[3]

1980-1986: Road to the top flight

After the winning season in 1979 Guria were promoted to the First League, where they played for another seven consecutive years. 

In I League after each season

YEAR	M	W	D	L	GF–GA	Pts	FP
1980	46	18	10	18	68-73	46	11th
1981	46	16	13	17	50-56	44	14th
1982	42	15	7	20	48-67	37	18th
1983	42	19	4	19	52-71	42	9th
1984	42	16	10	16	49-52	42	10th
1985	38	15	7	16	50-52	37	17th
1986	46	28	5	13	80-66	61	1st

Source

The very fact of promotion to the Soviet Top League for the team representing a provincial town seemed amazing. Football fervour around Guria grew so high that in most cases not a single seat was available during their matches and some youngsters would climb up trees around the stadium to watch their favourite team. The pitch invasion during the 2–1 win over fierce rivals FC Daugava Riga resulted in disqualification of the stadium for three matches. For this reason the final home game of the season against Yuri Semin's Lokomotive Moscow (1–0) was held in Batumi in front of 20,000 spectators. ^[4]

Under head coach Begi Sikharulidze some players especially contributed to this huge achievement: ^[5] Besik Pridonashvili with all 46 games played and 27 goals scored; Teimuraz Chkhaidze - 44 (8); Murman Akopian - 43 (7); Badri Danelia - 43 (1); Levan Melikia - 41; Vakhtang Kopaleishvili - 40 (16); Sergey Shvetsov - 40 (1); Enuki Tevzadze - 39 (5); Tariel Ebanoidze - 37 (1); Gigla Imnadze - 36; Alexander Kondratiev - 36; Merab Tevzadze - 30 (1); Gia Giligashvili - 26; Karlo Mchedlidze - 12; Davit Ugrelidze - 11 (5).

1987: the Top league

Straight away after the promotion the football ground underwent a significant reconstruction and eventually the capacity of stadium in a town with 9,021 residents as of 1987 reached 22,000. ^[6]

Between 1983/84 and 1987/88 seasons the USSR occupied a second place after Italy in UEFA ranking, ^[7] therefore, the Soviet Top League was a tough challenge for Guria. Being regarded as a decent home team, Guria beat Kairat Alma-Ata 2–0, Neftchi 1–0, Dinamo Minsk 2–1, Dinamo Moscow 2-1 and Ararat Yerevan 2–0, also played goalless draws against Dinamo Kiev, Dinamo Tbilisi and future bronze medal holders Zalgiris, although poor results in away games doomed the club for relegation.

1988-89: Promotion battles

Guria did not succeed in a new promotion attempt, finishing in the 4th place in 1988, but the team still made headlines with a shock victory over Dinamo Kiev (2–1) in the Cup 1/16 finals. ^[8] The next year the Gurians once again displayed their powerful home run by winning all 21 games held in Lanchkhuti and earned a place in the Soviet Top League as runners-up of the 1989 season. ^[9]

However, Guria were no longer destined to play again in the Soviet championship. On 15 February 1990 Georgian Football Federation made a decision to break away from the Soviet Football Federation, withdraw all the teams from the Soviet leagues and form its own national championship with immediate effect. ^[10]

Since 1990: Georgian leagues

By entering Umaglesi Liga competition a new stage opened up for Guria. First several years they remained high-flying, winning the Georgian Cup title in 1990 ^[11] and silver medals in 1990 and 1991. Later the decline started which saw the club moving up and down the first three divisions several times.

Their very name was subjected to changes, becoming Guria-Lokomotive-2 after the merger with Locomotive's reserve team in 2001, and Guria-2000 in 2008. In 2009 the team regained their popular name.

In the 2016 season Guria played in the top Georgian division, but within two years they slumped to Liga 3. Although the team managed to go up for 2019, their tenure there did not last longer than one season.

Throughout the shortened 2020 season Guria appeared poised for promotion. Yet, decisive last two games lost to direct rivals spelled failure for their main goal. ^[12] In contrast, a year later the team mostly stayed inside the drop zone, although due to the points picked up close to the end they barely escaped yet another relegation.

Seasons

Season	League	Pos	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts	Cup
1987	Soviet Top League	16↓	30	5	8	17	18	38	18
1988	Soviet First League	4	42	23	7	12	71	44	53
1989	Soviet First League	2↑	42	27	9	6	78	39	63
1990	Umaglesi Liga	2	34	22	6	6	73	20	72	Winner
1991	Umaglesi Liga	2	19	14	4	1	38	15	46	—
1991/92	Umaglesi Liga	4	38	22	3	13	89	56	69	Round of 16
1992/93	Umaglesi Liga	12	32	12	2	18	37	57	38	Round of 16
1993/94	Umaglesi Liga West	2	14	9	0	5	36	22	27	Quarterfinals
	Champ.Group	7	18	5	2	11	30	50	17
1994/95	Umaglesi Liga	13	30	8	6	16	36	81	30	Quarterfinals
1995/96	Umaglesi Liga	13	30	9	0	21	35	74	27	Round of 32
1996/97	Umaglesi Liga	13	30	10	3	17	33	63	33	Round of 16
1997/98	Umaglesi Liga	14	30	6	9	15	30	58	27	Round of 16
1998/99	Umaglesi Liga	16↓	30	3	4	23	34	87	13	Round of 32
1999/00	Pirveli Liga A	8	22	7	1	14	36	45	22	Round of 16
2000/01	Pirveli Liga	3	22	12	5	5	31	25	41	Fourth round
	Champ.Group	1↑
2001/02	Umaglesi Liga	10↓	22	3	6	13	14	44	15	Quarterfinals
2002/03	Pirveli Liga	12	30	9	7	14	32	44	34	Second round
2003/04	Pirveli Liga	10	30	13	6	11	38	37	45	First round
2004/05	Pirveli Liga	10	30	10	8	12	30	45	38	First round
2005/06	Pirveli Liga	9	34	14	5	15	50	47	47	Round of 32
2006/07	Pirveli Liga	15↓	34	8	7	19	36	76	31	First round
2007/08	Meore Liga West	2↑	22	15	6	1	49	17	51	—
2008/09	Pirveli Liga	6	14	7	2	5	24	21	23	Round of 16
2009/10	Pirveli Liga	4	28	16	5	7	53	32	53	First round
2010/11	Pirveli Liga	6	32	14	4	14	50	59	46	First round
2011/12	Pirveli Liga B	2	18	12	3	3	41	15	39	Round of 32
2012/13	Pirveli Liga A	1↑	33	27	4	2	86	20	85	Quarterfinals
2013/14	Umaglesi Liga	6	32	12	0	20	31	53	36	Round of 16
2014/15	Umaglesi Liga	9	30	10	9	11	38	43	39	Round of 32
2015/16	Umaglesi Liga	11	30	6	9	15	28	49	27	Round of 16
2016	Umaglesi Liga White	6↓	12	3	2	7	8	21	11	Round of 16
2017	Erovnuli Liga 2	8↓ [lower-alpha 1]	36	11	4	21	47	68	37	Round of 16
2018	Liga 3	3↑ [lower-alpha 2]	38	21	10	7	59	31	73	Round of 8
2019	Erovnuli Liga 2	8↓ [lower-alpha 3]	36	10	6	20	39	64	36	Round of 16
2020	Liga 3	5	18	8	2	8	26	30	26	First round
2021		11	26	8	5	13	33	44	29	Third round
2022		12	30	11	4	15	42	49	37	Quarterfinals
2023		9	30	11	6	13	44	55	39	Third round

1. Lost to Telavi 2–3 on aggregate in play-offs
2. Beat Samgurali on away goals in play-offs
3. Lost to Aragvi 1–2 on aggregate in play-offs

Overall, seasons spent in Georgian leagues since 1990:

• Umaglesi Liga (1st tier): 15

• Pirveli Liga / Erovnuli Liga 2 (2nd tier): 14

• Meore Liga / Liga 3 (3rd tier): 6

Correct up to 2023 season

Club honours

• Georgian Soviet Championship:
  • Winners: 1961, 1966, 1971
  • Runners-up: 1960
• Georgian Soviet Cup:
  • Winners: 1965, 1966, 1971
• Soviet First League :
  • Runners-up: 1986, 1989
• Soviet Second League :
  • Winners: 1976, 1979
• Georgian Cup :
  • Winners: 1990
• Umaglesi Liga
  • Runners-up: 1990, 1991
• Pirveli Liga :
  • Winners: 2000–01, 2012-2013 (West)
• Meore Liga :
  • Runners-up: 2007–08
  • Third place: 2018

Personal honours

• Otar Korghalidze  – Top scorers – 14 goals, 1991 season
• Otar Korghalidze  – Top scorers – 40 goals, 1991–92 season
• Zviad Endeladze  – European Golden Boot – 40 goals, 1995-96 season (for Margveti Zestafoni)

In early 2020, by decree of the Georgian Ministry of Sport Begi Sikharulidze, Teimuraz Chkhaidze and Gigla Imnadze were awarded the Knight of Sport title for their distinguished contribution to Guria's victorious season in 1986. ^[13]

A year later Begi Sikharulidze was awarded the title Honorary Citizen of Lanchkhuti. ^[14]

Current squad

As of 12 March 2024 ^[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   GEO Irakli Khvedelidze 2 DF   GEO Levan Vardiashvili 3 DF   GEO Beka Beridze 4 DF   GEO Beka Tsiklauri 5 DF   GEO Dimitri Virubovi (C) 7 MF   GEO Karlo Jikidze 8 MF   GEO Luka Makharadze 9 FW   GEO Sandro Chkhaidze 10 MF   Davit Kerkhanochiev

No. Pos. Nation Player 11 FW   GEO Lasha Akhalaia 12 GK   GEO Nikoloz Shapatava 13 DF   GEO Davit Chankotadze 15 MF   GEO Teimuraz Lomadze 16 DF   GEO Giorgi Beraia 17 MF   GEO Saba Ebralidze 19 MF   GEO Luka Meskhidze 21 FW   GEO Tornike Mumladze 22 DF   GEO Sandro Bakhia

Former players

See also: Category:FC Guria Lanchkhuti players

Topscorers by season

Season	Name	Goals
1966–67	Omar Pertenava	16
1967–68	Vakhtang Dzidziguri	23
1968–69	Vakhtang Dzidziguri	17
1969–70	Vakhtang Dzidziguri	18
1970–71	Vakhtang Dzidziguri	39
1971–72	Vakhtang Dzidziguri	13
1972–73	Joni Abaishvili	19
1973–74	Vakhtang Dzidziguri	15
1974–75	Revaz Sanaia	25
1975–76	Besik Mchedlishvili	20
1976–77	Vasil Troian	18
1977–78	Vasil Troian	15
1978–79	Merab Megreladze	26
1979–80	Merab Megreladze	20
1980–81	Merab Megreladze	11
1981–82	Temur Ebanoidze	9
1982–83	Murtaz Akophiani	14
1983–84	Vakhtang Kopaleishvili	13
1984–85	Gia Tkebuchava	11
1985–86	Besik Phridonashvili	27
1986–87	Viktor Khlus	5
1987–88	Viktor Khlus	21
1988–89	Merab Zhordania	25
1989–90	Otar Korghalidze	21
1990–91	Otar Korghalidze	14
1991–92	Otar Korghalidze	40

Managers

• Givi Imnaishvili (1952–53)
• Vladimer Narimanidze (1954–55)
• Viktor Berezhnoi (1956)
• Boris Chitaia (1957–58)
• Shalva Kakabadze (1959–79)
• Aleqsandre Kotrikadze (1980)
• Murtaz Khurtsilava (1981–82)
• Shalva Kakabadze (1983–84)
• Begi Sikharulidze (1985–86)
• Aleqsandre Kotrikadze (1986)
• Mykhaylo Fomenko (1987–90)
• Gigla Imnadze (1990)
• Murtaz Khurtsilava (1990–93)
• Teimuraz Chkhiadze (1993–94)
• Gigla Imnadze (1994–95)
• Begi Sikharulidze (1995–96)
• Boris Dudarov (1996)
• Gigla Imnadze (1996–97)
• Gia Tavadze (1997)
• Avtandil Nariashvili (Aug 1997–??)
• Davit Makharadze (22 July 2013 – 18 September 2013)
• Roman Pokora (Sep – Dec 2013)
• Davit Makharadze (Jan – Aug 2014)
• Temur Loria (Aug 2014 – Apr 2015)
• Gigla Imnadze (Apr – May 2015)
• Kakha Gogichaishvili (Aug – Sep 2015)
• Badri Kvaratskhelia (Sep 2015)
• Gia Chkhaidze (Oct – Dec 2015)
• Viktor Demidov (Feb – Apr 2016)
• Temur Makharadze (Apr – Aug 2016)
• Oleh Leshchynskyi (Aug – Nov 2016)
• Gigla Imnadze (Mar – May 2017)
• Gia Guruli (May – Oct 2017)
• Davit Makharadze (Oct 2017 – Aug 2018)
• Giorgi Oniani (Aug – Oct 2018)
• Giga Imedaishvili (Oct – Dec 2018)
• Tengiz Pataraia (Mar – Apr 2019)
• Giga Imedaishvili (May 2019)
• Gela Sanaia (May – Aug 2019)
• Giorgi Chkhaidze (Aug 2019)
• Temur Loria (Sep 2019 – Mar 2020)
• Levan Khomeriki/Ivane Makharadze (Apr 2020 – Feb 2021)
• Giga Imedaishvili (Feb – Sep 2021)
• Giorgi Oniani (Oct 2021 – Jul 2022)
• Gigla Imnadze (Aug – Dec 2022)
• Davit Dighmelashvili (Jan – May 2023)
• Aleksandre Koshkadze (May 2023 – Apr 2024)
• Giga Imedaishvili (since May 2024)

References

1. "Georgia - List of Foundation Dates".
2. Football 1987. Tbilisi: Georgian Federation of Sport reporters. p. 92.
3. ""ჩვენ ორნი ვართ ქვეყანაზე _ მე და ევგრაფ შევარდნაძე!"". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 25 January 2012.
4. ""რას ხედავ, ბიძია, მაქედან?!" _ ლანჩხუთის "გურიას" იუბილე". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 13 November 2011.
5. "Guria in 1986". teams.by.
6. "Первый чисто футбольный стадион в Высшей лиге СССР построили только в 1987-м (за два месяца!). Вы ни за что не угадаете, в каком городе". sports.ru (in Russian) 23 April 2020.
7. "UEFA ranking". mogiel.net.
8. "USSR 1988-89 Cup". wildstat.com.
9. "The Soviet First league in 1989". soccer365.ru.
10. "Грузия и Литва после обретения самостоятельности". ua.tribuna.com (in Russian) 23 March 2020.
11. "როგორ მოიპოვა ლანჩხუთელთა საყვარელმა გუნდმა "გურიის" სახელწოდება". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 16 March 2016.
12. "Liga 3 results in 2020". gff.ge.
13. ""სპორტის რაინდები" _ ლანჩხუთელთა გასული წლის საფეხბურთო აღიარება". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 10 January 2020.
14. ""გურიას" ლეგენდას ლანჩხუთის საპატიო მოქალაქის წოდება მიენიჭა". gurianews.com (in Georgian). 15 January 2021.
15. "Guria squad". soccerway.com.

External links

• Profile on Soccerway
• FC Guria results on Flashscore
• Page on Facebook
• Guria, Georgian Public TV Documentary in Georgian