FC Guria Lanchkhuti
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". FC Guria (Georgian: Script error: No such module "Lang".) is a Georgian association football club from Lanchkhuti. Following the 2024 season they were relegated to Liga 4, the fourth 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.
The team plays their home matches at the Evgrapi Shevardnadze Stadium.
100% share of the club currently belongs to the Lanchkhuti municipality.[1]
History
Early period
Formed in 1924[2] as FC Kimi, the team ceased to exist after the start of World War 2 and resumed functioning in 1952 under the name "Kolmeurne", a Georgian word for the collective farm worker.
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.[3]
1972–79: 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.
| 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.[4]
1980–86: 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.
| 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 | 2nd[5] ↑ |
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 Daugava Riga resulted in the disqualification of 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.[6]
It happened so that the struggling Guria that was almost relegated in the previous season managed to place 2nd soon after the native of Lanchkhuti, Eduard Shevardnadze became the Soviet foreign affairs minister.
Under head coach Begi Sikharulidze, some players especially contributed to this huge achievement:[7] 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.[8]
Between the 1983–84 and 1987–88 seasons the USSR occupied a second place after Italy in UEFA ranking,[9] therefore, the Soviet Top League was a tough challenge for Guria. Being regarded as a decent home team, Guria beat Kairat 2–0, Neftchi 1–0, Dinamo Minsk 2–1, Dinamo Moscow 2–1 and Ararat 2–0, also played goalless draws against Dinamo Kyiv, 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 Kyiv (2–1) in the Cup 1/16 finals.[10] 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.[11]
However, Guria were no longer destined to play again in the Soviet championship. On 15 February 1990, the 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.[12]
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[13] 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, the decisive last two games lost to direct rivals spelled failure for their main goal.[14] 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.
Guria reached a new low in 2024, when they finished at the bottom of the table and suffered relegation to Liga 4.
Seasons
Season League Pos P W D L GF GA Pts Cup 1987 Soviet Top League 16Template:Down-arrow 30 5 8 17 18 38 18 1988 Soviet First League 4 42 23 7 12 71 44 53 1989 Soviet First League 2Template:Up-arrow 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 16Template:Down-arrow 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 1Template:Up-arrow 10 6 2 2 15 9 20 2001/02 Umaglesi Liga 10Template:Down-arrow 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 15Template:Down-arrow 34 8 7 19 36 76 31 First round 2007/08 Meore Liga West 2Template:Up-arrow 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 1Template:Up-arrow 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 6Template:Down-arrow 12 3 2 7 8 21 11 Round of 16 2017 Erovnuli Liga 2 8Template:Down-arrowTemplate:Efn 36 11 4 21 47 68 37 Round of 16 2018 Liga 3 3Template:Up-arrowTemplate:Efn 38 21 10 7 59 31 73 Round of 8 2019 Erovnuli Liga 2 8Template:Down-arrowTemplate:Efn 36 10 6 20 39 64 36 Round of 16 2020 Liga 3 5 18 8 2 8 26 30 26 First round 2021 Liga 3 11 26 8 5 13 33 44 29 Third round 2022 Liga 3 12 30 11 4 15 42 49 37 Quarterfinals 2023 Liga 3 9 30 11 6 13 44 55 39 Third round 2024 Liga 3 16Template:Down-arrow 30 5 6 19 30 71 21 First round
Template:Notelist 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): 7
- Liga 4 (4th tier): 1
Correct up to 2025 season
Club honours
- Georgian Soviet Championship: (level 4)
- Winners: 1961, 1966, 1971
- Runners-up: 1960
- Georgian Soviet Cup:
- Winners: 1965, 1966, 1971
- Soviet First League: (level 2)
- Soviet Second League: (level 3)
- Georgian Cup:
- Winners: 1990
- Umaglesi Liga (level 1)
- Pirveli Liga: (level 2)
- Winners: 2000–01, 2012–13 (West)
- Meore Liga/Liga 3: (level 3)
- Runners-up: 2007–08
- Third place: 2018
Personal honours
- Template:Flagicon Otar Korghalidze – Top scorers – 14 goals, 1991 season
- Template:Flagicon Otar Korghalidze – Top scorers – 40 goals, 1991–92 season
- Template:Flagicon Zviad Endeladze – European Golden Boot – 40 goals, 1995–96 season (for Margveti Zestaponi)
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.[15]
A year later Begi Sikharulidze was awarded the title Honorary Citizen of Lanchkhuti.[16]
Current squad
As of 3 April 2025[17]
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Former players
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Topscorers by season
Managerial history
| Name | Coun. | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Givi Imnaishvili | Template:Flagicon | 1952 | 1953 |
| Vladimer Narimanidze | Template:Flagicon | 1954 | 1955 |
| Viktor Berezhnoi | Template:Flagicon | 1956 | 1956 |
| Boris Chitaia | Template:Flagicon | 1957 | 1958 |
| Shalva Kakabadze | Template:Flagicon | 1959 | 1979 |
| Aleksandre Kotrikadze | Template:Flagicon | 1980 | 1980 |
| Murtaz Khurtsilava | Template:Flagicon | 1981 | 1982 |
| Shalva Kakabadze | Template:Flagicon | 1983 | 1984 |
| Begi Sikharulidze | Template:Flagicon | 1985 | 1986 |
| Aleksandre Kotrikadze | Template:Flagicon | 1986 | 1986 |
| Mykhailo Fomenko | Template:Flagicon | 1987 | 1990 |
| Gigla Imnadze | Template:Flagicon | 1990 | 1990 |
| Murtaz Khurtsilava | Template:Flagicon | 1990 | 1993 |
| Temur Chkhaidze | Template:Flagicon | 1993 | 1994 |
| Gigla Imnadze | Template:Flagicon | 1994 | 1995 |
| Begi Sikharulidze | Template:Flagicon | 1995 | 1996 |
| Boris Dudarov | Template:Flagicon | 1996 | 1996 |
| Gigla Imnadze | Template:Flagicon | 1996 | 1997 |
| Gia Tavadze | Template:Flagicon | 1997 | 1997 |
| Avtandil Nariashvili | Template:Flagicon | 1997 | ? |
| Davit Makharadze | Template:Flagicon | 2013 | 2013 |
| Roman Pokora | Template:Flagicon | 2013 | 2013 |
| Davit Makharadze | Template:Flagicon | 2014 | 2014 |
| Temur Loria | Template:Flagicon | 2014 | 2015 |
| Gigla Imnadze | Template:Flagicon | 2015 | 2015 |
| Kakha Gogichaishvili | Template:Flagicon | 2015 | 2015 |
| Badri Kvaratskhelia | Template:Flagicon | 2015 | 2015 |
| Gia Chkhaidze | Template:Flagicon | 2015 | 2015 |
| Viktor Demidov | Template:Flagicon | 2016 | 2016 |
| Temur Makharadze | Template:Flagicon | 2016 | 2016 |
| Oleh Leshchynskyi | Template:Flagicon | 2016 | 2016 |
| Gigla Imnadze | Template:Flagicon | 2017 | 2017 |
| Gia Guruli | Template:Flagicon | 2017 | 2017 |
| Davit Makharadze | Template:Flagicon | 2017 | 2018 |
| Giorgi Oniani | Template:Flagicon | 2018 | 2018 |
| Giga Imedaishvili | Template:Flagicon | 2018 | 2018 |
| Tengiz Pataraia | Template:Flagicon | 2019 | 2019 |
| Giga Imedaishvili | Template:Flagicon | 2019 | 2019 |
| Gela Sanaia | Template:Flagicon | 2019 | 2019 |
| Gia Chkhaidze | Template:Flagicon | 2019 | 2019 |
| Temur Loria | Template:Flagicon | 2019 | 2020 |
| Levan Khomeriki / Ivane Makharadze | Template:Flagicon | 2020 | 2021 |
| Giga Imedaishvili | Template:Flagicon | 2021 | 2021 |
| Giorgi Oniani | Template:Flagicon | 2021 | 2022 |
| Davit Digmelashvili | Template:Flagicon | 2023 | 2023 |
| Aleksandre Koshkadze | Template:Flagicon | 2023 | 2024 |
| Gigla Imnadze | Template:Flagicon | 2024 | 2025 |
| Temur Loria | Template:Flagicon | 2025 |
References
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- ↑ Soviet Union 1986. www.rsssf.org
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External links
- Profile on Soccerway
- FC Guria results on Flashscore
- Page on Facebook
- Guria, Georgian public television documentaryin Georgian
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