Erovnuli Liga

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The Erovnuli Liga (Georgian: Script error: No such module "Lang".; Template:Lit) is the top division of professional top tier football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union. From 2017, the Erovnuli Liga switched to a spring-autumn system, with only 10 clubs in the top flight.

History and format evolution

The Erovnuli Liga (Georgian: Script error: No such module "Lang".) is the highest division of Georgian football, established in 1990 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Prior to that, Georgian clubs competed within the Soviet league system and the Georgian SSR Championship (1927–1989).

Originally called the Umaglesi Liga (Georgian: Script error: No such module "Lang"., "Supreme League"), the league adopted the name Erovnuli Liga ("National League") after a rebranding in 2017.[1]

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the number of participating teams fluctuated widely: - 1990s: Between 16 and 20 clubs - Early 2000s: Reduced to 10–12 clubs for quality stabilization - 2017 onward: Fixed at 10 clubs

Originally operating on a traditional autumn–spring schedule, the league shifted to a spring–autumn calendar in 2017, aligning with many Nordic and Eastern European competitions. The switch was intended to avoid harsh winter interruptions and better synchronize with UEFA club competition calendars.[2]

League Structure by Year

Erovnuli Liga Structure Over Time
Period No. of Teams Notes
1990–1999 16–20 Early expansion
2000–2011 10–12 Contraction for financial stability
2012–2016 12 Stable double round-robin format
2017–present 10 Spring–autumn calendar, quadruple round-robin

Teams play each other four times per season (home and away twice), totaling 36 matches per club. The bottom-placed team is relegated to Erovnuli Liga 2, while the 9th-placed team enters a promotion/relegation playoff.

Sponsorship and Branding

Since 2019, the league operates under the official title of Crystalbet Erovnuli Liga, following a sponsorship deal with the betting company Crystalbet.[3]

The Crystalbet partnership enhanced the league’s marketing efforts, with unified branding across team jerseys, match broadcasts, and official materials. Previously, the league operated without a title sponsor.

Broadcasting and Media Coverage

- Major matches are broadcast live on 1TV Sport and Adjarasport channels. - Non-televised games are streamed via the GFF's official YouTube channel and other online platforms. - Highlight shows and weekly reviews (such as "Erovnuli Ligis Mimokhilva") summarize the matchday action.

As of the 2020s, virtually every league match is available live either on television or digital streams, significantly improving fan access and visibility.

Club Licensing and Modernization

The Georgian Football Federation enforces strict UEFA club licensing regulations for Erovnuli Liga participation, covering: - Stadium standards - Financial transparency - Youth development - Administrative professionalism

By 2024, all Erovnuli Liga clubs successfully met UEFA licensing standards.[4]

Modern stadiums like Batumi’s Adjarabet Arena and Kutaisi’s Ramaz Shengelia Stadium meet UEFA Category 4 standards.

Recent Developments and European Access

Since the 2020s, the Erovnuli Liga has produced more diverse champions: - FC Saburtalo Tbilisi (2018 champions) - FC Dinamo Batumi (2021 champions)

The league champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, while second and third-placed teams (and the cup winner) qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Further modernization efforts include: - Gradual preparation for VAR implementation - Enhanced media rights packaging - Youth academy investments through GFF’s strategic plan

The Erovnuli Liga remains vital to the continued development of Georgian football both domestically and internationally.


Format

Below is a complete record of how many teams have played in each season throughout the league's history:

 
  • 1990 = 17
  • 1991–1992 = 20
  • 1992–1993 = 17
  • 1993–1994 = 19
  
  • 1994–2000 = 16
  • 2000–2004 = 12
  • 2004–2005 = 10
  • 2005–2006 = 16
  
  • 2006–2008 = 14
  • 2008–2009 = 11
  • 2009–2011 = 10
  • 2011–2014 = 12
  
  • 2014–2016 = 16
  • 2016 (August-December) = 14
  • 2017- = 10

UEFA country ranking

Champions

Soviet era

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as Georgian SSR

Post-independence

Key
† League champions also won the Georgian Cup, i.e. they completed the domestic Double.

As Umaglesi Liga(Supreme League)

Season Champions Runners-up Third place
1990 Iberia Tbilisi (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Guria Lanchkhuti Gorda Rustavi
1991 Iberia Tbilisi (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Guria Lanchkhuti Kutaisi
1991–92 Iberia-Dinamo Tbilisi (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Tskhumi Sokhumi Gorda Rustavi
1992–93 Dinamo Tbilisi (4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Shevardeni-1906 Tbilisi Alazani Gurjaani
1993–94 Dinamo Tbilisi (5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Kolkheti-1913 Poti Torpedo Kutaisi
1994–95 Dinamo Tbilisi (6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Samtredia Kolkheti-1913 Poti
1995–96 Dinamo Tbilisi (7)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Margveti Zestaponi Kolkheti-1913 Poti
1996–97 Dinamo Tbilisi (8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Kolkheti-1913 Poti Dinamo Batumi
1997–98 Dinamo Tbilisi (9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Batumi Kolkheti-1913 Poti
1998–99 Dinamo Tbilisi (10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Torpedo Kutaisi Locomotive Tbilisi
1999–00 Torpedo Kutaisi (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". WIT Georgia Tbilisi Dinamo Tbilisi
2000–01 Torpedo Kutaisi (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Locomotive Tbilisi Dinamo Tbilisi
2001–02 Torpedo Kutaisi (3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Locomotive Tbilisi Dinamo Tbilisi
2002–03 Dinamo Tbilisi (11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Torpedo Kutaisi WIT Georgia Tbilisi
2003–04 WIT Georgia Tbilisi (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Sioni Bolnisi Dinamo Tbilisi
2004–05 Dinamo Tbilisi (12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Torpedo Kutaisi FC Tbilisi
2005–06 Sioni Bolnisi (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". WIT Georgia Tbilisi Dinamo Tbilisi
2006–07 Olimpi Rustavi (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Ameri Tbilisi
2007–08 Dinamo Tbilisi (13)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". WIT Georgia Tbilisi Zestaponi
2008–09 WIT Georgia Tbilisi (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Olimpi Rustavi
2009–10 Olimpi Rustavi (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Zestaponi
2010–11 Zestaponi (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Olimpi Rustavi
2011–12 Zestaponi (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Metalurgi Rustavi Torpedo Kutaisi
2012–13 Dinamo Tbilisi (14)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Dila Gori Torpedo Kutaisi
2013–14 Dinamo Tbilisi (15)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Zestaponi Sioni Bolnisi
2014–15 Dila Gori (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Batumi Dinamo Tbilisi
2015–16 Dinamo Tbilisi (16)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". † Samtredia Dila Gori
2016 Samtredia (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Chikhura Sachkhere Dinamo Batumi

As Erovnuli Liga(National League)

Season Champions Runners-up Third place
2017 Torpedo Kutaisi (4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Samtredia
2018 Saburtalo (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Torpedo Kutaisi
2019 Dinamo Tbilisi (17)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Batumi Saburtalo
2020 Dinamo Tbilisi (18)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Batumi Dila Gori
2021 Dinamo Batumi (1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Dila Gori
2022 Dinamo Tbilisi (19)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Batumi Dila Gori
2023 Dinamo Batumi (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Dinamo Tbilisi Torpedo Kutaisi
2024 Iberia 1999 (2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Torpedo Kutaisi Dila Gori

Performance by club

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Club Winners Runners-Up Third Place Winning seasons
Dinamo Tbilisi 19 8 6 1990, 1991, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2019, 2020, 2022
Torpedo Kutaisi 4 4 6 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2017
Dinamo Batumi 2 5 2 2021, 2023
WIT Georgia 2 3 1 2003–04, 2008–09
FC Zestaponi 2 1 2 2010–11, 2011–12
Metalurgi Rustavi 2 1 4 2006–07, 2009–10
Iberia 2 0 1 2018, 2024
Samtredia 1 2 1 2016
Dila Gori 1 1 5 2014–15
Sioni Bolnisi 1 1 1 2005–06

Top scorers

Year Top scorers Club Goals
1990 Template:Flagicon Gia Guruli
Template:Flagicon Mamuka Pantsulaia		 Iberia Tbilisi
Gorda Rustavi		 23
1991 Template:Flagicon Otar Korgalidze Guria Lanchkhuti 14
1991–92 Template:Flagicon Otar Korgalidze Guria Lanchkhuti 40
1992–93 Template:Flagicon Merab Megreladze Samgurali Tskaltubo 41
1993–94 Template:Flagicon Merab Megreladze Margveti Zestaponi 31
1994–95 Template:Flagicon Giorgi Daraselia Kolkheti Poti 26
1995–96 Template:Flagicon Zviad Endeladze Margveti Zestaponi 40
1996–97 Template:Flagicon Giorgi Demetradze
Template:Flagicon David Ujmajuridze		 Dinamo Tbilisi
Dinamo Batumi		 26
1997–98 Template:Flagicon Levan Khomeriki Dinamo Tbilisi 23
1998–99 Template:Flagicon Mikheil Ashvetia Dinamo Tbilisi 26
1999–00 Template:Flagicon Zurab Ionanidze Torpedo Kutaisi 25
2000–01 Template:Flagicon Zaza Zirakishvili Dinamo Tbilisi 21
2001–02 Template:Flagicon Suliko Davitashvili Locomotive
Merani-91		 18
2002–03 Template:Flagicon Zurab Ionanidze Torpedo Kutaisi 26
2003–04 Template:Flagicon Suliko Davitashvili Torpedo Kutaisi 20
2004–05 Template:Flagicon Levani Melkadze Dinamo Tbilisi 27
2005–06 Template:Flagicon Jaba Dvali Dinamo Tbilisi 21
2006–07 Template:Flagicon Sandro Iashvili Dinamo Tbilisi 27
2007–08 Template:Flagicon Mikheil Khutsishvili Dinamo Tbilisi 16
2008–09 Template:Flagicon Nikoloz Gelashvili Zestaponi 20
2009–10 Template:Flagicon Anderson Aquino Metalurgi Rustavi 26
2010–11 Template:Flagicon Nikoloz Gelashvili Zestaponi 18
2011–12 Template:Flagicon Jaba Dvali Zestaponi 20
2012–13 Template:Flagicon Xisco Dinamo Tbilisi 24
2013–14 Template:Flagicon Xisco Dinamo Tbilisi 19
2014–15 Template:Flagicon Irakli Modebadze Dila Gori 16
2015–16 Template:Flagicon Giorgi Kvilitaia Dinamo Tbilisi 24
2016 Template:Flagicon Budu Zivzivadze Samtredia 11
2017 Template:Flagicon Irakli Sikharulidze Locomotive Tbilisi 25
2018 Template:Flagicon Giorgi Gabedava
Template:Flagicon Budu Zivzivadze		 Chikhura Sachkhere
Dinamo Tbilisi		 22
2019 Template:Flagicon Levan Kutalia Dinamo Tbilisi 20
2020 Template:Flagicon Mykola Kovtalyuk Dila Gori 10
2021 Template:Flagicon Zoran Marušić Dinamo Tbilisi 16
2022 Template:Flagicon Flamarion Dinamo Batumi 19
2023 Template:Flagicon Flamarion
Template:Flagicon Zoran Marušić
Template:Flagicon Zurab Museliani		 Dinamo Batumi
Dinamo Tbilisi
Gagra		 17
2024 Template:Flagicon Bjørn Johnsen Torpedo Kutaisi 23

Annual awards

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References

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External links

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