FC Telavi
FC Telavi is a Georgian association football club from the city of Telavi, competing in Erovnuli Liga, the first tier of Georgian league system.
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| Full name | Football Club Telavi | ||
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| Founded | July 19, 2016 | ||
| Ground | Givi Chokheli Stadium Telavi, Georgia | ||
| Capacity | 12,000 | ||
| Chairman | Irakli Vashakidze | ||
| Manager | Giorgi Chelidze | ||
| League | Erovnuli Liga | ||
| 2021 | 6th of 10 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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They have been a member of the top flight since 2020.
History
The football club was founded in 2016 by former football players Irakli Vashakidze, Soso Grishikashvili and Aleksandre Amisulashvili.[1] Telavi successfully completed their first season in Regionuli Liga in 2016 and earned a place in III division. The next year they finished 2nd in Group White and in promotion play-offs defeated Guria 3-2 on aggregate.[2]
In 2018, Telavi took a foothold in Liga 2 coming 5th in the final table. On David Kipiani Cup Telavi eliminated four opponents, including Dila Gori, and reached the semifinals where they lost to Torpedo Kutaisi, future champions of the competition.[3]
The next year they booked another promotion play-off, beat Rustavi in both games and advanced to Erovnuli Liga.[4] With this result the team achieved three promotions within the four seasons. Also, after a twelve-year pause the first-tier football finally returned to the capital of Kakheti.
Following this promotion nine new players, including four foreigners, strengthened the squad for 2020.[5] During their very first season the club was widely praised for decent performance. Having lost just two games out of 18, FC Telavi finished in the 6th place.[6]
The next season began poorly. After being winless for 17 games Telavi seemed a primary candidate for relegation, which resulted in the exit of manager. Starting from mid-June the team experienced some revival, producing an unbeaten run for seven matches, including five wins. They secured six more victories in the last quarter of the season, leapfrogged the rivals and accomplished a great escape. With this achievement Giorgi Mikadze claimed Manager of Erovnuli Liga Round 4 (October-December) award.[7]
Seasons
Year Division Pos P W D L GF GA Pts Cup Manager 2017 3rd, White Group 2/10 18 10 5 3 30 18 35 3rd Round Giorgi Dekanosidze Promotion Group 3/10 
18 12 3 3 56 15 39 2018 2nd 5/10 36 12 12 12 45 43 48 1⁄2 finals Denis Khomutov 2019 3/10 36 19 6 11 70 36 63 1⁄8 finals Revaz Gotsiridze 2020 1st 6/10 18 4 12 2 21 14 24 1⁄4 finals 2021 6/10 36 12 8 16 35 53 44 1⁄8 finals Revaz Gotsiridze;
Giorgi Mikadze
Current squad
As of 10 April 2022[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Stadium
Givi Chokheli football ground is home to FC Telavi, although the club played most of their home games in the last two seasons on Kavkasioni Rugby Arena.
In October 2020, local authorities made a presentation on construction plans for a brand new stadium.[9]
Sponsors
In early 2018, FC Telavi signed a sponsorship contract with m2 Development company.[10]
External links
References
- "ვინ თქვა, კახეთში ფეხბურთი არ უყვართო?! თელავში გუნდი ფეხბურთელებმა აღადგინეს". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 10 September 2016.
- "„თელავმა" პლეი-ოფში „გურიას" სძლია და მე-2 ლიგაში აღზევდა". reginfo.ge. 4 December 2017.
- "„ტორპედო" საქართველოს დავით ყიფიანის სახელობის თასის ფინალში გავიდა". topnews.ge (in Georgian). 7 November 2018.
- "„თელავმა" „რუსთავი" დაამარცხა და ეროვნულ ლიგაში დაწინაურდა". 1tv.ge. 11 December 2019.
- "თელავმა ცხრა ფეხბურთელი დაიმატა". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 29 February 2020.
- "2020 Final table". eliga.ge.
- "გიორგი მიქაძე ეროვნული ლიგის მეოთხე წრის საუკეთესო მწვრთნელია". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 10 December 2021. Retrieved 11 Dec 2021.
- "Players". eliga.ge.
- "თელავს თანამედროვე სტანდარტების შესაბამისი სტადიონი ექნება". telavi.gov.ge (in Georgian). 30 October 2020.
- "m2 becomes main sponsor of FC Telavi". m2.ge. 1 March 2018.