Wikipedia

Georges Mikautadze

Georges Mikautadze (Order of Honor) (Georgian: გიორგი მიქაუტაძე Giorgi Mikaut'adze; born 31 October 2000) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lyon and the Georgia national team.[1]

Georges Mikautadze
Mikautadze playing for Metz in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Lyon
Number 69
Youth career
2007–2008 FC Gerland
2008–2015 Lyon
2015–2016 Saint-Priest
2016–2018 Metz
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Metz B 24 (9)
2019–2023 Metz 42 (25)
2020–2022 → Seraing (loan) 49 (28)
2023–2024 Ajax 5 (0)
2024 → Metz (loan) 20 (13)
2024– Lyon 11 (2)
International career‡
2021– Georgia 34 (15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:45, 11 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:57, 16 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Mikautadze started taking first steps in football at Gerland before he joined the academy of Olympique Lyonnais. In 2016, he moved to FC Metz's football academy.[2]

Mikautadze made his professional debut with Metz in a 4–1 Ligue 1 loss to Nice on 7 December 2019.[3] On 10 December 2019, he signed his first professional contract with Metz which was a four-year deal.[4] He struggled to make an impact in his first season in France, playing mostly for the reserve team.[5]

Seraing

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In June 2020, Mikautadze was one of six Metz players to join Belgian First Division B side Seraing on loan.[6] After his first nine matches with Seraing, he had scored 15 times, including four on his debut against Lommel.[7] Overall, with 19 goals he became a joint topscorer of the season. He netted three goals in an aggregate 6–3 play-off victory over Waasland-Beveren. For his contribution to Seraing's successful league campaign, Mikautadze was named in Team of the Season[8] and was awarded the Métallo d'Or, the title annually given to the best Seraing player, after the fans had voted for him.[9]

On 30 August 2021, he returned to Seraing on another loan, with the club now promoted to the Belgian top tier.[10] The team ended up in the relegation zone, although it remained in the league due to the only goal scored by Mikautadze in the play-offs against Molenbeek.[11]

Metz

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In the summer of 2022, Mikautadze returned to Metz. After being a nominee for the award in August, by March 2023 Mikautadze was the leading goalscorer of the league, and the National Union of Professional Players (UNPF) named him Player of the Month.[12] Having added nine more goals in April and May, he was selected in Team of the Week six times in a row during this period.[13] By the end of the season he was the top goalscorer and best player of the league.[14]

With Metz promoted to Ligue 1 in 2023–24, Mikautadze started the new season by scoring twice against Marseille and Clermont and providing an assist in the opening game against Rennes.

Ajax

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On 30 August 2023, Eredivisie club Ajax announced the signing of Mikautadze on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €16 million, potentially rising to €19 million with add-ons.[15][16] He made his debut, starting and playing the full game, in a 0–0 draw away at Fortuna Sittard.[17] Mikautadze made his European debut in Ajax's 2–0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amsterdam Arena. During the first half of the 2023–24 campaign, Mikautadze made just nine appearances in all competitions for Ajax, failing to score a goal.[18]

Return to Metz

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On 4 January 2024, Mikautadze returned to Metz, arriving on loan from Ajax until the end of the 2023–24 season.[19][20] The deal included an option-to-buy, reported to be around €13 million.[18]

He failed to score in his first five games, but then netted ten in as many matches, scoring his first goal since returning to the club in a 2–1 defeat to Lyon as well as a brace in a vital 2–1 win over Lens, another goal against Clermont, a penalty against Nantes, a brace in a 4–3 defeat to Champions League-chasing Brest, the only goal in a 1–0 win over Le Havre, a penalty in a 2–1 defeat to Lille and a lob over Steve Mandanda in a 3–2 defeat against Rennes where Mikautadze got a controversial red card which was overturned by appeal.[21] In mid-April, Get French Football News found it incredible that a player with only 15 appearances in Metz's 29 matches accounted for 30% of the goals scored by the team.[22]

Three times during this season, namely in August, February and April, Mikautadze was voted Player of the Month by Metz fans.[23][24] He eventually concluded the second half of the 2023–24 season by scoring 13 goals in 20 matches; however, his team was relegated following their defeat in the playoffs against Saint-Étienne.[25]

Lyon

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On 18 July 2024, despite Metz having reached an agreement with AS Monaco previously, Mikautadze refused to join Monaco and signed for his former club Olympique Lyonnais on a four-year deal, for €7.5 million, with no add ons. One month later, on 18 August 2024, he played his first game for Olympique Lyonnais, the 2024–25 Ligue 1 opening game against Rennes.[26] Mikautadze opened his goal-scoring account with a brace in a 2–2 draw against AJ Auxerre on 27 October 2024.[27]

International career

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Mikautadze received a first call-up for the Georgia national team from French coach Willy Sagnol in March 2021. He told the press that he had been dreaming about playing for Georgia since his childhood.[28]

Mikautadze made his debut with the Georgia national team in a 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification loss to Sweden on 25 March 2021.[29] In June 2021, he netted his first international goal in a 2–1 away friendly win against Romania.[30] On 12 October 2023, Mikautadze scored four goals, his first international hat-trick and poker, in an 8–0 win against Thailand, the record win of the Georgia national team.[31]

During Georgia's UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Mikautadze scored three goals in ten matches (including the play-offs), recording two against Cyprus and an equaliser against Norway, contributing to his country's first-ever qualification to a major tournament.[32] He would then be selected in Georgia's 26-man squad for the final tournament in Germany.[33] On 18 June, Mikautadze scored his nation's first goal in the European competition, by netting the equaliser against Turkey in Georgia's opening match, which ended in a 3–1 defeat.[34] Four days later, he scored a penalty in his side's second group match, a 1–1 draw against the Czech Republic.[35] On 26 June, Mikautadze scored another penalty in a 2–0 victory over Portugal, securing his nation's qualification to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams, and concluding the group stage as top scorer in the competition with three goals in total.[36] Following the conclusion of the tournament, Mikautadze finished level with five other players on three goals, and thus shared the top scorer award.[37]

In 2024, Mikautadze was awarded the Order of Honor by the President of Georgia following the debut performance of the Georgia National Team at the Euro 2024.[38]

Personal life

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Mikautadze's family moved from Georgia to France in the late 1990s. Mikautadze was born and raised in France, and made regular visits to Georgia during the summers. He grew up speaking Georgian at home, having being taught by his parents.[39][1]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 10 November 2024[40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Metz B 2018–19 Championnat National 3 6 1 — — — 6 1
2018–19 Régional 1 4 4 — — — 4 4
2019–20 Championnat National 3 17 8 — — — 17 8
Total 27 13 — — — 27 13
Metz 2019–20 Ligue 1 1 0 — — 0 0 1 0
2020–21 Ligue 1 1 0 — — — 1 0
2022–23 Ligue 2 37 23 3 1 — — 40 24
Total 39 23 3 1 — 0 0 41 24
Seraing (loan) 2020–21 Belgian First Division B 21 19 1 0 — 2[b] 3 24 22
2021–22 Belgian Pro League 28 9 3 4 — 2[c] 1 33 14
Total 49 28 4 4 — 4 4 57 36
Ajax 2023–24 Eredivisie 6 0 1 0 2[d] 0 — 9 0
Metz (loan) 2023–24 Ligue 1 20 13 0 0 — 2[e] 1 22 14
Lyon 2024–25 Ligue 1 11 2 0 0 4[d] 0 — 15 2
Career total 152 79 8 5 6 0 6 5 170 89
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Belgian First Division B promotion play-off
  3. ^ Appearances in Belgian Pro League relegation play-off
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs

International

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As of match played 16 November 2024[41]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Georgia 2021 7 1
2022 6 1
2023 9 7
2024 12 6
Total 34 15
Scores and results list Georgia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mikautadze goal.
List of international goals scored by Georges Mikautadze
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 2 June 2021 Ilie Oană Stadium, Ploiești, Romania   Romania 1–0 2–1 Friendly
2 2 June 2022 Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia   Gibraltar 3–0 4–0 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C
3 28 March 2023 Batumi Stadium, Batumi, Georgia   Norway 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
4 17 June 2023 AEK Arena, Larnaca, Cyprus   Cyprus 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
5 12 October 2023 Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia   Thailand 3–0 8–0 Friendly
6 4–0
7 5–0
8 7–0
9 15 October 2023 Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia   Cyprus 4–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
10 9 June 2024 Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro   Montenegro 2–0 3–1 Friendly
11 18 June 2024 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany   Turkey 1–1 1–3 UEFA Euro 2024
12 22 June 2024 Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany   Czech Republic 1–0 1–1 UEFA Euro 2024
13 26 June 2024 Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany   Portugal 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2024
14 7 September 2024 Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia   Czech Republic 3–0 4–1 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B
15 16 November 2024 Batumi Stadium, Batumi, Georgia   Ukraine 1–1 1–1 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b Thyssen, Emmanuel (18 June 2024). "Natia et Lasha Mikautadze sont des parents comblés: "Georges est une fierté pour notre famille, en France et en Géorgie"". DHnet (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ "მეცმა" ქართველთან კონტრაქტი გააფორმა - მიქაუტაძე ლოთარინგიაში სამი წელი ითამაშებს". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 11 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Nice vs. Metz - 7 December 2019 - Soccerway". Soccerway.
  4. ^ "Metz : Georges Mikautadze passe professionnel - Foot - L1 - Metz". L'Équipe.
  5. ^ "FC Metz Amid interest from the Premier League, set a price tag". FootballExpress.in. 13 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Metz send 6 players on loan to Belgian 2nd division side & satellite club Seraing". getfootballnewsfrance.com. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Maak kennis met Georges Mikautadze: het doelpuntenfenomeen in 1B". sporza.be (in Dutch). 13 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. ^ "D1B Pro League 'XI van het seizoen' // SPITS (2) // Georges Mikautadze (Seraing)" [D1B Pro League 'XI of the season' // STRIKER (2) // Georges Mikautadze (Seraing)]. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Georges Mikautadze reçoit le titre de Métallo d'Or" (in French). 17 April 2021.
  10. ^ "MERCATO : GEORGES IS BACK" (in French). Seraing. 30 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Molenbeek vs Seraing". fotmob.com. 23 April 2022.
  12. ^ "GEORGES MIKAUTADZE SACRÉ EN LIGUE 2 BKT" (in French). UNPF. 18 April 2023.
  13. ^ "მიქაუტაძე და დავითაშვილი ლიგა 2-ის ტურის სიმბოლურში ისევ ერთად მოხვდნენ". europop.ge (in Georgian). 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Trophées UNFP: Palmarès des meilleurs joueurs" (in French). ligue2.fr. 28 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Ajax signs Mikautadze". ajax.nl. 30 August 2023.
  16. ^ Pietrzela, Andrea (30 August 2023). "Mikautadze all'Ajax, è ufficiale: contratto fino al 2028". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Fortuna Sittard 0-0 Ajax - Eredivisie 2023/2024 Live".
  18. ^ a b "Ajax announce Georges Mikautadze departure". OneFootball. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Le roi est de retour!" [The king is back!] (in French). FC Metz. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Georges Mikautadze on loan to FC Metz". AFC Ajax. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Mikautadze double boosts Metz in relegation fight". Associated Press. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  22. ^ "GEORGES MIKAUTADZE – FROM AJAX OUTCAST TO METZ'S SAVIOUR?". getfootballnewsfrance.com. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Georges Mikautadze Grenat du mois de février Equipe Pro" (in French). FC Metz. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Georges Mikautadze Grenat du mois d'avril". fcmetz.com (in French). 4 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  25. ^ Matchett, Karl (17 June 2024). "Georgia's best chance to cause a Euro 2024 upset isn't Khvicha Kvaratskhelia". The Independent.
  26. ^ "Direct.Rennes-OL". L’Equipe. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Lyon vs Auxerre match report". espn.com. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  28. ^ "მიქაუტაძე: ჩემი ქვეყნის ნაკრების ღირსების დაცვაზე ბავშვობიდან ვოცნებობდი". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 22 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Match Report of Sweden vs Georgia - 2021-03-25 - WC Qualification". Global Sports Archive. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Romania vs Georgia". EUROSPORT. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Mikautadze s'offre un quadruplé face à la Thaïlande dans une victoire historique". So Foot (in French). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  32. ^ Davis, Krishan (17 June 2024). "How the hell have Georgia qualified for Euro 2024?! 'Kvaradona' & Co out to cause more shocks on tournament debut". Goal.com.
  33. ^ "საქართველოს ნაკრების შემადგენლობა ევრო 2024-ის მოსამზადებელ ეტაპზე" [The composition of the Georgian national team at the preparatory stage of Euro 2024] (in Georgian). Georgian Football Federation. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  34. ^ Harris, Daniel (18 June 2024). "Turkey 3-1 Georgia: Euro 2024 – live reaction". The Guardian.
  35. ^ Fisher, Ben (22 June 2024). "Mikautadze and Georgia denied historic victory as Schick saves Czech Republic". The Observer. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  36. ^ "Georges Mikautadze goes out on his own in EURO 2024 Alipay+ Top Scorer race". UEFA. 26 June 2024.
  37. ^ "EURO 2024 Alipay+ Top Scorers: Gakpo, Kane, Mikautadze, Musiala, Olmo, Schranz". UEFA. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  38. ^ პრეზიდენტი - მინდა, ერთობის სახელით, ეს ჯილდო გადავცე ბიჭებს და ვუსურვო, რომ გზა მათი გამარჯვებისა უსასრულო ყოფილიყოს, Administration of the President of Georgia, 2 July 2024
  39. ^ "საქართველო ევროპაზე - გიორგი მიქაუტაძის ცხოვრების სულ სხვა ეპიზოდები". tvpirveli.ge (in Georgian). TV Pirveli. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  40. ^ Georges Mikautadze at Soccerway
  41. ^ Georges Mikautadze at National-Football-Teams.com  
  42. ^ "Trophées UNFP. Le Messin Georges Mikautadze élu meilleur joueur de Ligue 2". ouest-france.fr (in French). 28 May 2023.
  43. ^ "Ligue 2 : Arouna Sangante dans l'équipe type de la saison". Wiwsport.com (in French). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  44. ^ "UEFA EURO 2024 Top Goalscorer". UEFA. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
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