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FC Zestaponi

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Football Club Zestaponi is a Georgian football club based in Zestaponi. They play their home games at David Abashidze Stadium. Zestaponi was founded on 18 June 2004 by the initiative of the shareholders of JSC Giorgi Nikoladze Zestaponi Ferro-Alloy Plant.

FC Zestafoni
Full nameFootball Club Zestafoni
Nickname(s)Zesta, Feroelebi (Ferroians), Margvelebi (Margvetians)
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
GroundDavid Abashidze Stadium
Zestafoni, Georgia
Capacity4,558
OwnerIlia Kokaia
ManagerLevan Jokhadze
LeagueLiga 3
2023Liga 3, 13th
Websitehttp://www.fczestafoni.ge

At that time[when?] Zestaponi have their own club FC Metallurg Zestaponi.[clarification needed] A new club was formed as Margveti Zestaponi joined Pirveli Liga and promoted in the first season. Margveti was a member of Umaglesi Liga and achieved their best result in 1995–96 by finishing runner-up.

History

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FC Metalurgi Zestaponi (1937–1989)

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From the beginning of the 20th century football was given rise in Georgia. In 1906 the first football fan club was founded in Tbilisi. This happened by the patronage of Mr. Lgotac. He was the one who on 23 February 1907 established the first football club in Georgia. The club, called "Comet", had its own regulations, funds, uniforms and a stadium.

Though it should be mentioned, that football was played far earlier in Georgia, mainly in the sea-side cities, first of all in Poti, where local groups competed in "passing/tossing a ball" with British mariners. That's why Poti is considered to be a cradle of Georgian football.

As to Zestaponi, in out city, football has been played since the beginning of the 20th century. First football players from Zestaponi were students of the local gymnasium (currently secondary school #1). According to our data, Zestaponi football team held its first match with one of the clubs of western Georgia (according to different sources Senaki or Ozurgeti) in 1918, during a celebration organized to commemorate Independence of Georgia. First international match held in Zestaponi was also during the independence period, in 1920. Zestaponi team competed with a group of British Occupational Forces and defeated it by 2–1.

In the 1920s Zestaponi football players held various matches with teams of neighboring cities. In 1927 first Football Championship in held in Georgia. First Champion of Georgia is Team of Batumi.

In the 1930s two football teams are established in Zestaponi – "Mertskhali" (Swallow) and "Locomotive", that often take part in local and regional tournaments.

A truly new era in the history of Zestaponi football starts form the second half of the 1930s, after a metallurgical giant, "Zestaponi Ferro-Alloy Plant", has been put into exploitation. It was by the initiative of professional committee of the plant, that a meeting of workers of the physical culture was held on 10 May 1937. A decision of establishing a football team was made on the meeting. The team was called "Metallurgi".

In August 1938, "Metallurgi" participates in the union tournament held by sport-society "Metallurgist" in Minsk, where the team defeats "Electrostal Moscow", "Krasni Oktiabr Staliningrad", "Metallurg Leningrad" and loses in final to "Serp i Molot". In 1938 FC Metallurgi Zestaponi is engaged in Georgian Championship, where it participates regularly until 1989.

In various years of Soviet era "Metallurgi" was:

Silver medalist of Georgian Championship – 1967, 1970, 1982;

Runners-Up of Georgian Cup – 1966, 1967, 1971 years;

Georgian Cup's Winner – 1962.

Various football players from "Metallurgi" played for leading Georgian football clubs on various degrees, for example: Lokomotivi Tbilisi – Guram Shavdia, Zaur Chubinidze; Torpedo Kutaisi – Guram Nishnianidze; Dinamo Tbilisi – Giorgi (Jora) Chumburidze, Guram Kochiashvili, Dodik Khundadze, Guram Petriashvili, Kartlos Tsintsadze, Nodar Kiknadze.

Margveti Zestaponi (1990–2000)

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In 1990 Georgian Football Federation leaves the Soviet Union's Football Federation. An Independent Georgian Football Federation is formed, that shortly after becomes a member of FIFA and UEFA, leading Georgian Clubs are engaged in National Championships.

In 1990 a new Football Club is founded in Zestaponi – FC Margveti Zestaponi, that holds the position of "Metallurgi" in Pirveli League of the Georgian National Championship and from the very first year becomes a member of Umaglesi league.

In 1993 and 1996 years "Margveti" is the semi-finalist of the Georgian National Cup. In 1996 "Margveti" is the Vice-Champion of Georgia and participates in UEFA Cup Qualification Round. Unfortunately, due to financial problems, at the end of the 20th century the club broke up.

In total, in the years of 1991–1998 FC "Margveti" participated in Umaglesi League 8 National Championships, held 247 matches, won 98 of them, draw 43, lost – 106, difference in scores 397–443.

In 2006 "Margveti-2006" was founded in the lower division and recently in Meore Liga, but it is different (municipal) club.

Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Europe Notes
1990 Pirveli Liga 2 38 28 3 7 102 44 87 Round of 32 N/A Promoted
1991 Umaglesi Liga 8 19 8 3 8 32 32 27
1991–92 Umaglesi Liga 8 38 14 11 13 60 58 53 Round of 16
1992–93 Umaglesi Liga 6 32 15 5 12 49 54 50 Semi-finals
1993–94 Umaglesi Liga 8 38 15 7 16 71 68 20/18 –
1994–95 Umaglesi Liga 9 30 10 6 14 35 53 36 Round of 32
1995–96 Umaglesi Liga 2 30 22 2 6 85 37 68 Semi-finals
1996–97 Umaglesi Liga 7 30 12 2 16 44 66 38 Quarter-finals UEFA Cup Preliminary round
1997–98 Umaglesi Liga 16 30 2 7 21 21 75 13 Round of 32 Relegated
1998–99 Pirveli liga 2 24 18 4 2 78 24 58 Round of 32
1999–00 Pirveli liga West Group A 1 22 18 4 0 71 18 58 Round of 16

Metalurgi Zestaponi (1999–2004)

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As FC Margveti Zestaponi faced financial problem and relegated in 1998. A new club using the city legend team name Metallurgi Zestaponi was formed in 1999. The club promoted to Umaglesi Liga in 2001. But the club faced financial problem and relegated in 2003. In 2003–04, the club finished bottom in Pirveli Liga and disestablished .

Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Europe Notes
1999–00 Pirveli liga West Group A 4 22 12 5 5 42 27 41 Round of 32
2000–01 Pirveli liga 2 32 17 8 7 48 31 42/38 Round of 16 Promoted
2001–02 Umaglesi Liga 9 32 9 10 13 33 44 37 Round of 16
2002–03 Umaglesi Liga 12 32 6 1 25 17 79 19 Round of 32 Relegated
2003–04 Pirveli liga 16 30 2 1 27 18 87 7 Round of 32 Initially relegated, but after the merger with FC Zestaponi were promoted to the Umaglesi Liga

FC Zestaponi (2004–present)

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On 18 June 2004, FC Zestaponi was incorporated. The club was invited to join Umaglesi Liga. Although, FC Metallurgi, FC Margveti and FC Zestaponi came from the same city, played on same stadium. They never met in the Umaglesi league and all clubs came from the succession of Metallurg Zestaponi.

Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Europe Notes
2004–05 Umaglesi Liga 5 36 16 5 15 38 48 53 Runner-up  –
2005–06 4 30 18 7 5 44 22 61 Runner-up  –
2006–07 4 26 16 9 1 55 11 57 Runner-up  –
2007–08 3 26 18 5 3 56 16 59 Winner Intertoto 1st Round
2008–09 4 30 16 4 10 43 27 52 Quarter-finals UEFA Cup 1st qualifying round
2009–10 3 36 19 10 7 58 33 67 Quarter-finals UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round
2010–11 1 36 24 6 6 72 19 78 Semi-finals UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round
2011–12 1 36 24 7 5 73 33 79 Runner-up 2011–12 UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round

UEFA Europa League Play-offs

2012–13 5 32 12 6 14 35 38 42 Round of 16 2012–13 UEFA Champions League 2nd qualifying round
2013–14 2 32 19 5 8 48 23 62 Round of 16  –
2014–15 16 30 6 8 16 40 61 26 Round of 16 UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round Expelled
2018 Regionuli Liga 4 28 17 2 9 60 33 23/30 Second round
2019 2 27 20 5 2 100 29 23/42 Round of 32 Promotion to Liga 4
2020 Liga 4 6 14 4 4 6 22 20 16 Second round
2021 2 36 23 9 4 76 27 41/37 Round of 32 Promotion to Liga 3
2022 Liga 3 15 30 4 3 23 18 77 15 Second round
2023 13 30 6 11 13 33 46 29 First round
2024 Second round

Stadium

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David Abashidze stadium was built by "Zestaponi Ferro-alloy Plant", started operating in 1952. Though a couple of matches were held on the stadium before its opening in 1951.

In 1952–1989 and 1999–2003 participant of Georgian Championship, FC Metallurgi held matches on the Zestaponi central stadium, in 1990–1998 it was a home stadium for FC Margveti.

Since 2004 FC Zestaponi is holding domestic matches on the stadium.

In 1981 reconstruction works were done on arena, west stand was roofed, east stand was constructed, after these works capacity of the Stadium increased to 8,000 seats.

In 2004, after establishing FC Zestaponi, central Stadium was repaired and is still being repaired to renew the arena and comply with international standards.

In 2005 works were done to renew the grass surface on the Stadium. Georgian workers have constructed new drainage system of German technology. Field is watered by a watering system of an American Company "Rainbird" (by the way this watering system was successfully used on 8 Stadiums during 2004 European Championship in Portugal).

On the David Abashidze Stadium (former Central) Stadium field surface "Natural Green Carpet" is made by the Ukrainian firm "Lidia-Park".

FC Zestaponi management is building a new base for the club. Many new football fields have been constructed in Zestaponi (among them one with an artificial surface). Relevant infrastructure is being made – work out rooms are being repaired, building of a new tribunes with personal seats is planned, along with the installment of a modern score-board.

Today capacity of the Stadium increased to 4,558 individual seats.

On 9 April 2010 the stadium was named after David Abashidze who contributed tremendously to the development and revival of football in Zestaponi.

Honors

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Zestaponian Clubs in Georgian Umaglesi Liga

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As of 12 April 2015
Club Seasons Years Matches Wins Draws Loses GF GA Points
FC Margveti Zestaponi 8 1991–1998 247 98 43 106 397 443 337
FC Metallurgi 2 2001–2003 64 15 11 38 50 123 56
FC Zestaponi 11 2004–2015 343 188 72 83 562 310 636
Total 21 1991–2015 654 301 126 227 1009 876 1029

FC Zestaponi. All competitions statistic

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As of 12 April 2015
Competition Wins Draws Loses GF GA Points
Georgian Umaglesi Liga 188 72 83 562 310 636
Georgian Cup 40 15 14 123 51
Georgian Super Cup 1 1 1 3 2
UEFA Champions League 1 2 3 6 9
UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League 4 5 7 27 19
UEFA Intertoto Cup 1 0 1 2 3

European Cups

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Season Competition Round Club Home Away
2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1Q   Tobol 2–0 0–3
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q   Gyori ETO 1–2 1–1
2009–10 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Lisburn Distillery 6–0 5–1
2Q   Helsingborgs 1–2 2–2
2010–11 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Faetano 5–0 0–0
2Q   Dukla Banska Bystrica 3–0 0–1
3Q   Karpaty Lviv 0–1 0–1
2011–12 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Dacia Chisinau 3–0 0–2
3Q   Sturm Graz 1–1 0–1
2011–12 UEFA Europa League PO   Brugge 3–3 0–2
2012–13 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Neftchi Baku 2–2 0–3
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 2Q   Spartak Trnava 0–0 0–3

Goals in Georgian Umaglesi Liga

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Topscorers

Name Position Country Years Goals
Nikoloz Gelashvili Forward   2008–2016 63
Jaba Dvali Forward   2010–2012, 2014 55
Zurab Ionanidze Forward   2005–2009 48
Rati Tsinamdzgvrishvili Forward   2008–2013 24
Tornike Gorgiashvili Midfielder   2005–2013 21
Gogi Pipia Midfielder   2005–2011 21
Shota Grigalashvili Midfielder   2009–2012 18

Topscorers by season

Season Name Goals
2004/05   Zaza Zirakishvili 10
2005/06   Zurab Ionanidze 17
2006/07   Gogi Pipia 13
2007/08   Gilvan Gomes 12
2008/09   Nikoloz Gelashvili 20
2009/10   Nikoloz Gelashvili 16
2010/11   Nikoloz Gelashvili 18
2011/12   Jaba Dvali 20
2012/13   Tornike Gorgiashvili 7
2013/14   Nikoloz Sabanadze 8
2014/15   Jaba Dvali 10
Goal N. Name Country Date
1 Giorgi Kurtsikidze   2 August 2004
100 Zurab Ionanidze   18 November 2006
200 Nikoloz Gelashvili   2 November 2008
300 Nikoloz Gelashvili   29 August 2010
400 Zaal Eliava   14 December 2011
500 Giorgi Kukhianidze   2 March 2014

Matches in Georgian Umaglesi Liga

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As of 6 March 2015
Name Position Country Years Matches
Roin Kvaskhvadze Goalkeeper   2005–13 155
Aleks Benashvili Midfielder   2005–13 136
Giorgi Khidesheli Defender   2005–13, 2014 126
Sevasti Todua Defender   2005–10 116
Tornike Aptsiauri Midfielder   2010–13 114
Zurab Ionanidze Forward   2005–10 113
Tornike Gorgiashvili Midfielder   2005–13 112
Jaba Dvali Forward   2009–12, 2014 110
Zaal Eliava Defender   2009–12 108
Irakli Dzaria Midfielder   2005–11 108
Nikoloz Gelashvili Forward   2007–11 107
Shota Grigalashvili Midfielder   2009–12 101
Murtaz Daushvili Midfielder   2005–11 99

Managers

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References

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