FC Odishi 1919
| Full name | FC Odishi 1919 |
|---|---|
| Ground | Ganmukhuri Central stadium |
| Capacity | 2,000 |
| Manager | Besik Sherozia |
| League | Liga 4 |
| 2021 | 1st, Liga 4 Relegation Round |
| Website | Club website |
FC Odishi 1919 is a Georgian association football club based in Zugdidi, the administrative centre of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. Being a municipal club, they currently take part in Liga 4, the forth tier of Georgian league system.
History[]
20 May 1919 two students of Zugdidi gymnasium Leo Chedia and Pier Kobakhidze organized a first football match in the city with Mertskhali (Swallows) represented as a local team. This date is considered a birthday for football in Zugdidi.[1]
The main football club of the city has had various names, especially after 1990, and as Dinamo Zugdidi, Odishi, Zugdidi, Baia and Mglebi has taken part in Umaglesi Liga in different seasons.
FC Lazika Zugdidi, the predecessor of Odishi 1919, in early 2010s competed in lower divisions. In the 2013/14 they won Meore Liga and booked a place in Pirveli Liga.[2]
The debutants of the second division performed remarkably well in the battle for a promotion spot. The club slipped up at the very end, losing three games in a row in last five matches, which allowed Locomotive Tbilisi to claim a second place paving the way for play-offs. Still, the third place in 2014/15 in Liga 2 is the best result shown by Lazika.[3]
Failing to achieve the goal of another promotion attempt, Lazika in mid-season of 2015-16 axed the manager and some key players. Ukrainian manager Sergey Zhitski as well as forward Levan Kutalia were invited, although the overall tide remained unchanged. In the same season Lazika was introduced as Odishi 1919. As the manager explained, while taking this decision a special emphasis was given to the history of football in Zugdidi.[4]
Soon a sharp decline followed which resulted in two relegations within two seasons. In 2018 the club competed in Regionuli Liga, finished 3rd and won the promotion at the expense of another team which withdrew from the competition.[5]
Since then Odishi 1919 have been competing in Liga 4, formed in 2019.
Seasons[]
| Year | League | Position | MP | W | D | L | GF-GA | P | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012/13 | Meore Liga West | 2nd of 13 | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 71-16 | 57 | |
| 2013/14 | Meore Liga West | 1st of 13 | 24 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 67-19 | 56 | Promoted |
| 2014/15 | Pirveli Liga Group A | 3rd of 10 | 36 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 69-41 | 66 | |
| 2015/16 | Pirveli Liga | 7th of 18 | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 52-58 | 48 | |
| 2016 | Pirveli Liga Group Red | 8th of 9 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 31-32 | 16* | * -6 points; relegated |
| 2017 | Liga 3 Red Group | 9th of 10 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 13-27 | 14 | |
| Liga 3 Relegation round | 7th of 10 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 27-31 | 24 | Relegated | |
| 2018 | Regionuli Liga, Group B West | 3rd of 8 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 30-21 | 25 | Promoted |
| 2019 | Liga 4 | 7th of 10 | 27 | 8 | 5 | 14 | 42-46 | 29 | |
| 2020 | Liga 4 Red Group | 6th of 8 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 21-17 | 19 | |
| 2021 | Liga 4 White Group | 6th of 10 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 29-32 | 29 | |
| Liga 4 Relegation Round | 1st of 10 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 36-25 | 40 |
Stadium[]
The club currently hosts home games at Central stadium located in Ganmukhuri, which is shared with FC Dinamo Zugdidi. The ground's capacity is 2,000.
Management[]
Head coach Besik Sherozia, who previously worked in Umaglesi Liga clubs Kolkheti-1913, Shukura and Zugdidi, has been in charge of Odishi 1919 since early 2020.
Current squad[]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Name[]
As an old name for Samegrelo, the term Odishi was widely applied in medieval times.
External links[]
References[]
- ^ "სპორტი ასი წლის წინ (ზუგდიდი 100 წლის წინ)". odishinews.ge (in Georgian).
- ^ "2013/14 in Meore Liga". soccerway.com.
- ^ "Pirveli Liga in 2014/15 season". soccerway.com.
- ^ "ზუგდიდის "ოდიში": მოვიპოვოთ ევროსაგზური, შევავსოთ სტადიონი!". sportall.ge (in Georgian).
- ^ "2018 season". gff.ge.
- Association football clubs established in 1919
- Football clubs in Georgia (country)