Giorgi Kiknadze

Georgi Kiknadze (Georgian: გიორგი კიკნაძე; born 26 April 1976) is a Georgian footballer and coach who played for FC Dinamo Tbilisi, FC Torpedo Kutaisi, Samsunspor, Freiburg, Lokomotivi Tbilisi, Spartaki Tbilisi and the Georgian national team as a midfielder. As part of the Dinamo Tbilisi team he won the Umaglesi Liga five times running from 1994 to 1998,[1] and the Georgian Cup four years running from 1994 to 1997. He was also a runner-up in the Georgian Cup in 1998.[2]

Not to be confused with Georgi Kinkladze.

Georgi Kiknadze
Personal information
Full name Georgi Kiknadze
Date of birth (1976-04-26) 26 April 1976
Place of birth Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, then Soviet Union
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1998 Dinamo Tbilisi 123 (16)
1998–1999 Torpedo Kutaisi
1999–2000 Samsunspor 4 (0)
2000–2003 SC Freiburg 0 (0)
2003–2004 Spartaki Tbilisi
2005–2006 Lokomotivi Tbilisi
National team
1996–1999 Georgia 10 (1)
Teams managed
2006–2007 Olimpi Rustavi
2007 Torpedo Kutaisi
2007–2010 Lokomotivi Tbilisi
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Kiknadze joined Turkish club Samsunspor in October 1999,[3] but stayed only one season, making just four appearances before moving to SC Freiburg in Germany. He failed to make the first team in his two seasons in Germany, and in 2003 he was released by Freiburg. He then returned to Georgia, where he played for Lokomotivi Tbilisi and later Spartaki Tbilisi.

He made his international debut on 5 December 1996 in a friendly match against Lebanon. Kiknadze captained the side in a 4–2 defeat, scoring Georgia's second goal.[4] He obtained the last of his ten international caps on 28 April 1999, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 loss against Norway.

Kiknadze started the 2006–07 season as coach of Olimpi Rustavi, entering coaching at the relatively young age of 30. This was Olimpi Rustavi's first season of existence; the club formed in 2006 following a merger between FC Tbilisi and FC Rustavi. At the start of the season Kiknadze led the club to a run of eight matches without conceding a single goal. However, midway through the season, with Olimpi leading the league, Kiknadze left the club after failing to agree terms on a new contract. Olimpi continued the good form they had enjoyed under Kiknadze, and won the league title.[5] Kiknadze subsequently became coach at Torpedo Kutaisi,[6] but just stayed in the job just one month.[7] He became the coach of Lokomotivi Tbilisi on 7 April 2007.[8]

Kiknadze's nephew Levan Kenia is also a professional footballer, playing for Czech club Slavia Prague.

References
  1. "Georgia - Championship Winning Teams". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  2. "Georgia - Cup Final Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  3. "Giorgi Kiknadze". Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  4. "The National Team of Georgia in 1996". Georgian Football Federation. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  5. "Rustavi heroes gear up for Europe". UEFA. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  6. "Georgia comes in from the cold". FIFA. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  7. Hammond, Mike (ed.) (2007). The European Football Yearbook 2007/08. London: M Press Media. ISBN 978-0-9555917-2-3.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) p507
  8. The European Football Yearbook 2007/08, p504
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