Zurab Khizanishvili

Zurab Khizanishvili (Georgian: ზურაბ ხიზანიშვილი; born 6 October 1981) is a Georgian football coach, currently the assistant manager of Georgia U-21, and former footballer who played as a defender.

Zurab Khizanishvili
Khizanishvili playing for Kayserispor
Personal information
Full name Zurab Khizanishvili
Date of birth (1981-10-06) 6 October 1981
Place of birth Tbilisi, Georgia SSR, USSR
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Georgia U-21 (assistant)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Dinamo Tbilisi 2 (1)
1999–2000 Norchi Tbilisi 9 (0)
2000–2001 Lokomotiv Tbilisi 16 (1)
2001–2003 Dundee 43 (0)
2003–2006 Rangers 42 (0)
2005–2006 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 26 (1)
2006–2011 Blackburn Rovers 36 (0)
2009 → Newcastle United (loan) 7 (0)
2010 → Reading (loan) 15 (0)
2010–2011 → Reading (loan) 22 (0)
2011–2014 Kayserispor 71 (1)
2014 Dinamo Tbilisi 4 (0)
2015 Samtredia 14 (1)
2015–2017 Inter Baku 50 (6)
Total 357 (11)
National team
1996–1997 Georgia U-17 9 (1)
1998 Georgia U-19 8 (0)
1999–2000 Georgia U-21 3 (1)
1999–2015 Georgia 92 (1)
Teams managed
2017– Georgia U-21 (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early career

Khizanishvili started his career at Dinamo Tbilisi where he remained for just one season, before joining FC Tbilisi to improve his chances of playing regular first team football.

In 1999, he was on the move again, joining his previous two clubs' city rivals Lokomotiv Tbilisi. Khizanishvili's form at Lokomotiv piqued the interest of some of Europe's top clubs, though the player's latter days at the club were marred by injury. Khizanishvili was eventually released after his contract with Lokomotiv was terminated.

Scotland

In March 2001, Khizanishvili joined Dundee, having had unsuccessful trials at Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham United.[1][2]

He quickly made an impact at Dens Park, alerting fellow Scottish Premier League team Rangers, whom Khizanishvili joined on a Bosman transfer in June 2003 as a replacement for wantaway Blackburn Rovers-bound defender Lorenzo Amoruso.

England

Despite making 35 appearances in his first campaign at Ibrox, Khizanishvili gradually fell out of favour and, on 31 August 2005, he was allowed to move on loan for the rest of the season to Blackburn in the English FA Premier League. During his loan spell at Blackburn he scored once in the league, in a 2–0 home win over Manchester City,[3] and once in the League Cup in a 3–1 win over Huddersfield Town.[4]

On 10 April 2006, he signed a permanent deal with Blackburn Rovers in a deal rumoured to be worth around about £500,000. He was a key part of Blackburn's team in the 2006-07 season, starting more than half the matches as the club competed domestically and in the UEFA Cup. Khizanishvili struggled to hold down a regular starting position in the rest of Mark Hughes' reign as manager.

Under Paul Ince and Sam Allardyce he also failed to break into the first team on a consistent basis. His first appearance of the 2009–10 campaign came on 25 August, when he started the League Cup 2nd Round tie against Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium, playing the full 90 minutes alongside Gael Givet in a 3–1 win. On 17 September 2009 Khizanishvili joined Championship team Newcastle United on loan in a three-month deal and returned on 19 December.[5] On 25 January 2010, he signed for Reading on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.

On 31 August 2010, he rejoined Reading on a season long loan for the 2010–11 season[6] and was handed the number 15 shirt at the Madejski Stadium. On 13 March 2011, Khizanishvili completed the full 90 minutes against Manchester City at Eastlands in a 1–0 FA Cup quarter-final loss. On 30 May 2011, he started the Championship play-off final against Swansea City. Khizanishvili was booked after 12 minutes and then conceded a penalty kick after 20 minutes, due to a clumsy challenge on winger Nathan Dyer and Reading went on to lose 4–2. Khizanishvili ended his second loan spell with Reading having made 29 appearances in all competitions, including 24 league outings.

Turkey

After his release from Blackburn, Khizanishvili joined Kayserispor, where he played for three seasons.[7]

Azerbaijan

In June 2015, Khizanishvili signed a six-month contract with Azerbaijan Premier League side Inter Baku PIK.[8]

International career

Khizanishvili played 93 matches for Georgia national football team. He scored his only goal against Moldova on 6 June 2009.[9]

Coaching career

After he retired from football in the summer 2017, Khizanishvili was appointed as the assistant manager of Gia Geguchadze at the Georgian U-21 national team.[10]

Personal life

Khizanishvili is married to the Georgian model Salome Ghviniashvili and they have three children. He is the son of former USSR international defender Nodar Khizanishvili.

Career statistics

Club
Sources:[11][12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dinamo Tbilisi 1998–99 Umaglesi Liga 21-00-21
FC Tbilisi 1999–200 Umaglesi Liga 90---90
Locomotive Tbilisi 1999–2000 Umaglesi Liga 51-00-51
2000–01 110-10-120
Total 161--10--171
Dundee 2000–01 Scottish Premier League 600000--60
2001–02 1800020--200
2002–03 1905010--250
Total 4305030----510
Rangers 2003–04 Scottish Premier League 260103080-380
2004–05 160102060-250
2005–06 00000000-00
Total 4202050140--630
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2005–06 Premier League 2612041--322
Blackburn Rovers 2006–07 Premier League 180501060-300
2007–08 130102010-170
2008–09 504030--120
2009–10 001010--20
2010–11 000000--00
Total 3601107070--610
Newcastle United (loan) 2009–10 Championship 700000--70
Reading (loan) 2009–10 Championship 1500000--150
2010–11 2202000-30270
Total 3702000--30420
Kayserispor 2011–12 Süper Lig 33120--40391
2012–13 29000---290
2013–14 18030---210
Total 80150----40891
Dinamo Tbilisi 2014–15 Umaglesi Liga 4010-000050
Samtredia 14000---140
Inter Baku 2015–16 Azerbaijan Premier League 24330-60-333
2016–17 26350---313
Total 50680--60--646
Career total 355103601902807044510

International goals
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
16 June 2009Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia Moldova1 – 21–2Friendly

Honours

Club

Rangers

Individual

References
  1. "Wenger eyes Georgian wonder-kid". BBC Sport. 17 October 2000. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. "Caballero set for return". BBC Sport. 26 February 2001. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  3. "Blackburn 2–0 Man City". BBC Sport. 7 May 2006. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  4. "Blackburn 3–1 Huddersfield". BBC Sport. 21 September 2005. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  5. Ryder, Lee (12 December 2009). "Zurab Khizanishvili set to return to Blackburn Rovers". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  6. "Khizanishvili leaves Blackburn Rovers for Reading". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest Media Group. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  7. "Royals step up defender search". Reading Chronicle. Berkshire Media Group. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  8. "Интер дозаявил Хизанишвили" [Inter added Khizanishvili] (in Russian). Azeri Football. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  9. "Georgia v Moldova football match, 6 June 2009". eu-football.info.
  10. "Khizanishvili is an Assistant of Geguchadze". WorldSport.ge. 3 June 2017.
  11. "Games played by Zurab Khizanishvili in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  12. "Z.Khizanishvili". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
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