FC Torpedo Kutaisi

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FC Torpedo Kutaisi
TorpedoLogo400x400.png
Full nameFootball Club Torpedo Kutaisi
Nickname(s)FC Torpedo
Founded3 May 1946; 75 years ago (3 May 1946)
GroundRamaz Shengelia Stadium
Kutaisi, Georgia
Capacity14,700
ManagerKakhaber Chkhetiani
LeagueErovnuli Liga
20208th
WebsiteClub website
Away colours

FC Torpedo Kutaisi is a Georgian professional football club based in Kutaisi, Georgia's third largest city. 'Torpedo Kutaisi' was founded in 1946 and in just three years the club became the winner of the Football Championship of that time. Torpedo's home ground is Ramaz Shengelia Stadium.

History[]

The Soviet period[]

FC Torpedo Kutaisi was founded in 1946 on the base of Kutaisi Automotive Plant.[clarification needed] In 1949 the club became the winner of the Georgian SSR Championship. In 1959 two football clubs "FC Torpedo Kutaisi" and "FC Locomotive Kutaisi" were united and the name remained "FC Torpedo Kutaisi". In 1962 "FC Torpedo Kutaisi" became a first participant in the Soviet Top League.[1] Many famous Georgian football players began their career in this club, among them Revaz Dzodzuashvili, Anzor Kavazashvili, Sergo Kutivadze, Givi Nodia, Manuchar Machaidze, Murtaz Khurtsilava. In addition, when Dinamo Tbilisi won UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1980–81, five footballers were the ex-players of FC Torpedo Kutaisi - Tamaz Kostava, Otar Gabelia, Nodar Khizanishvili, Tengiz Sulakvelidze and Ramaz Shengelia.

Torpedo spent one season in the Soviet Second league in 1988. The club also was represented for twenty years in the First league and for 14 more seasons between 1971 and 1990 in the top league, the first tier of the Soviet football.

Div. MP W D L GF-GA
2nd league 34 25 7 2 76-24
1st league 746 338 169 239 1037-818
Top league 443 107 129 207 402-659

Ups and downs in 1990s and 2000s[]

When the Georgian National Championships started in 1990, the club changed its name into "FC Kutaisi". But after three years the club restored the old name. The last years of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st were the most successful years in the club's history. During 1999–02 the club won five domestic titles. Many players from "FC Torpedo Kutaisi" were represented in the Georgia national football team, including Valeri Abramidze, Sevasti Todua, Malkhaz Asatiani, Levan Silagadze, Revaz Kemoklidze.[2] Besides, Georgian managers (, David Kipiani, Revaz Dzodzuashvili, Otar Gabelia, Vladimir Gutsaev and others) worked in the club as a head coach and in the staff too.

After the season 2004–05, three times Georgian Premier League Champion and two times Georgian National Cup Winner FC Torpedo Kutaisi was dissolved. Its last game was in Borisov, Belarus against BATE Borisov (First Qualifying Round of UEFA Cup 2005–06) in which FC Torpedo Kutaisi lost 5–0. After this, a new football club "FC Kutaisi Torpedo" was founded, but it was not the successor of FC Torpedo Kutaisi and had no titles.[citation needed] "FC Kutaisi Torpedo" was participating in the Georgian Premier League during two seasons (2005–06 and 2006–07), but due to financial reasons it was removed from the top league and began playing in the Pirveli Liga.

2010-2016 Road back to the success[]

Torpedo returned to Umaglesi Liga three years later, after winning the second division in 2009/10.

In June 2010 the newly promoted club signed a sponsorship deal with Wissol Petroleum, which was later renewed. The business relations between the sides lasted until December 2013.[3]

In the first season Torpedo reached the final of David Kipiani Cup where the winner was decided in penalty shoot-out. Gagra better converted from the spot and won the title for the first time in their history.[4]

In the next two seasons Torpedo added two bronze medals to their tally, but a big moment came in 2016 when they won a first Cup title in 15 years. The team eliminated four rivals, including Dinamo Tbilisi in the semifinal, and prevailed over Merani Martvili in the final stage.[5]

In 2016 FC Torpedo was sold by the local municipality at auction, won by businessman Zaal Chachava, who was declared president of the club.[6]

Two months before the Cup victory Kakha Chkhetiani, the ex-Torpedo player for six seasons and later assistant manager for three years, had taken charge of the club. Taking into account plans for new investments, he pledged to carry on with successful run and make a championship challenge next year.

2017-18 More titles[]

Torpedo won the league for the first time in 15 years in the most dramatic circumstances. A title battle continued until the dying seconds of the final game in late November. With two matches to go, Dinamo seemed comfortably sitting on the top, four points clear of second-placed Torpedo. While the former were held to a goalless draw at Saburtalo, Kutaisi won their game, and the rivals had their last fixture in Tbilisi with the gap reduced now to two points. Torpedo needed to win in order to capture the title, while their opponents needed just a draw. The team had a 1–0 advantage when they conceded a penalty in the last minute of the game. However, the penalty was saved by the goalkeeper and a dramatic win saw Torpedo crowned champions of Georgia.[7]

Six days later Torpedo had a chance to achieve the double by winning the Cup for the second time in a row, although they lost on penalties to Chikhura.

The Super Cup was another title claimed by Torpedo in an opening match of the new 2018 season in February. Chikhura Sachkhere took the lead in 76th min, but Kutaisi equalized ten minutes later with Levan Kutalia scoring in the stoppage time.[8] This was their first Super Cup victory in history.

Torpedo retained 18 players from the champion's squad for the 2018 season. While the club finished 3rd in the league, they once again encountered Liga 2 side Gagra in the Cup final held in Batumi. Torpedo were behind by two goals, but Milos Lacny scored twice and eventually the team won on penalties.[9]

As champions, Torpedo played eight games in UEFA competitions this season. They knocked out two opponents and advanced to Europa League play-off, where Ludogorets Razgrad claimed the victory.

Summing up the season in December, Georgian Football Federation named Roin Kvaskhvadze the best goalkeeper, whilst Mamuka Kobakhidze and Mate Tsintsadze won nominations respectively as best defender and midfielder. In addition to them, Oleksandr Azatskyi, another central defender, was included in Erovnuli Liga team of the season.[10]

2019-20 Decline[]

2019 began with yet another success. In the Super Cup Torpedo defeated Saburtalo and won the fifth title within 26 months.[11]

In March Torpedo's unbeaten run consisting of 27 games came to an end.[12] Much worse was to come, though. Financial difficulties hit hard the club again, which led to the exit of twelve players by July. The fans held several rallies, demanding the resignation of Zaal Chachava. In an interview captain Roin Kvaskhvadze described the general situation around the team as unbearable and appealed for help. No wonder a fixture on UEFA Europe league turned out unsuccessful.[13]

In the league one win in 15 matches brought Torpedo close to the drop-zone. Unless the problem was solved, the relegation seemed one possibility with dissolution or expulsion to a lower league being other ones. In late August Zaal Chachava announced his departure from Torpedo, [14] although an overall condition was so complicated that in October the club played against Saburtalo with eleven U18 players, including 13-year-old goalkeeper Soso Kopaliani.[15]

Largely at the expense of points picked up earlier this season, Torpedo stayed in the league, but Kakha Chkhetiani, who spent 39 months at the helm, bade farewell to the club in December.[16]

After a series of negotiations with investors interested in buying the club an agreement was reached in late February 2020. New owner Fabrizio Mannini announced that a new era was about to begin in Torpedo's history.[17]

In October Giorgi Shengelia, son of legendary Ramaz Shengelia, was appointed as Sporting director. In another twist of events, Mannini quit the club in December.[18]

Torpedo finished in the bottom half of the table and at a decisive point gained the upper hand in a two-legged relegation tie against Gagra.[19]

Kakha Chkhetiani was appointed as team's manager for the second time in June 2021.[20]

Honours[]

Competition Titles Seasons
Erovnuli Liga 4 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2017
Erovnuli Liga 2 1 2009–10
Georgian Cup 4 1998–99, 2000–01, 2016, 2018
Georgian Super Cup 2 2018, 2019
Soviet First League 2 1960, 1961
Soviet Second League 1 1988
Georgian SSR Championship 1 1949

Current squad[]

As of 18 September 2021[21][22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Georgia (country) GEO Vazha Tabatadze
3 DF Georgia (country) GEO Bakar Mirtskhulava
4 DF Georgia (country) GEO Luka Kapianidze
5 DF Georgia (country) GEO Tsotne Nadaraia
6 MF Georgia (country) GEO Oleg Mamasakhlisi
7 MF Georgia (country) GEO Irakli Dzaria
8 DF Georgia (country) GEO Mate Abuladze
9 FW State of Palestine PLE Fadi Zidan
10 MF Algeria ALG Mehdi Boukassi
11 FW Georgia (country) GEO Bidzina Makharoblidze
12 FW Georgia (country) GEO Lasha Chikhladze
13 DF Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Abzianidze
14 MF Georgia (country) GEO Levan Tsotsonava
15 MF Belarus BLR Dzmitry Rekish
16 DF Zimbabwe ZIM Alec Mudimu
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF Georgia (country) GEO Saba Piranishvili
18 DF Georgia (country) GEO Tedore Grigalashvili
19 GK Georgia (country) GEO Levan Shovnadze
20 MF Georgia (country) GEO Tamaz Sharvashidze
21 DF Georgia (country) GEO Vakhtang Botchorishvili
22 DF Ghana GHA Samuel Inkoom
23 MF Georgia (country) GEO Mate Tsintsadze
25 FW Georgia (country) GEO
27 MF Kazakhstan KAZ Magomed Paragulgov
29 FW Georgia (country) GEO Tornike Akhvlediani
30 GK Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Dino Hamzić
32 MF Greece GRE Vasilios Karagounis
33 FW Georgia (country) GEO
37 DF Georgia (country) GEO Aliko Chakvetadze
39 GK Georgia (country) GEO Roin Kvaskhvadze

European history[]

Overall record[]

Accurate as of 18 July 2019
Competition Played Won Drew Lost GF GA GD Win%
UEFA Champions League 12 5 2 5 14 19 −5 041.67
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 22 5 2 15 27 48 −21 022.73
UEFA Intertoto Cup 4 2 1 1 9 3 +6 050.00
Total 38 12 5 21 50 70 −20 031.58

Legend: GF = Goals For. GA = Goals Against. GD = Goal Difference.

Matches[]

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Armenia Erebuni 6–0 1–1 7–1 Symbol keep vote.svg
2R Belgium Lommel 1–2 1–0 2–2 Symbol delete vote.svg
1999–00 UEFA Cup QR Estonia Lantana 4–2 5–0 9–2 Symbol keep vote.svg
1R Greece AEK 0–1 1–6 1–7 Symbol delete vote.svg
2000–01 UEFA Champions League 2QR Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Crvena Zvezda 2–0 0–4 2–4 Symbol delete vote.svg
2001–02 UEFA Champions League 1QR Northern Ireland Linfield 1–0 0–0 1–0 Symbol keep vote.svg
2QR Denmark Copenhagen 1–1 1–3 2–4 Symbol delete vote.svg
2002–03 UEFA Champions League 1QR Faroe Islands B36 Tórshavn 5–2 1–0 6–2 Symbol keep vote.svg
2QR Czech Republic Sparta Prague 1–2 0–3 1–5 Symbol delete vote.svg
2003–04 UEFA Cup QR France Lens 0–2 0–3 0–5 Symbol delete vote.svg
2005–06 UEFA Cup 1QR Belarus BATE Borisov 0–1 0–5 0–6 Symbol delete vote.svg
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1QR Kazakhstan Aktobe 1–1 0–1 1–2 Symbol delete vote.svg
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 1QR Slovakia Žilina 0–3 3–3 3–6 Symbol delete vote.svg
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1QR Slovakia Trenčín 0–3 1–5 1–8 Symbol delete vote.svg
2018–19 UEFA Champions League 1QR Moldova FC Sheriff 2–1 0–3 2–4 Symbol delete vote.svg
UEFA Europa League 2QR Faroe Islands Víkingur Gøta 3–0 4–0 7–0 Symbol keep vote.svg
3QR Albania Kukësi 5–2 0–2 5–4 Symbol keep vote.svg
PO Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 0–1 0–4 0–5 Symbol delete vote.svg
2019–20 UEFA Europa League 1QR Kazakhstan Ordabasy 0–2 0–1 0–3 Symbol delete vote.svg

UEFA coefficient[]

Rank Country Team Points
275 Georgia (country) Torpedo Kutaisi 3.750

As of 8 August 2019. [1]

Seasons[]

Key

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
Results of league and cup competitions by season
Season Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Domestic Cup Federation Cup GSSR Cup Super Cup UEFA
FIFA 		Name Goals
League Top goalscorer
1946 12 2 2 8 12 20 6 4th n/a ? ?
1948 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 1⁄2 n/a ? ?
1949 SFL/UR 26 16 8 2 58 25 40 2nd 1/32 n/a Runners-up ? ?
1953 1/64 n/a ? ?
1955 Z4,1/128 n/a ? ?
1957 30 16 6 8 54 28 38 6th Z3,1/2 n/a , 10
1958 30 17 6 7 66 35 40 4th Z4,1/4 n/a ? ?
1959 SFL/Z3 26 11 6 9 36 34 28 6th n/a n/a , 10
1960 SFL 30 21 7 2 70 21 49 1st Z3,1/4 n/a ? ?
1961 30 22 2 6 49 23 46 1st 1/32 n/a 15
1962 STL 18 7 5 6 21 16 19 15th 1/16 n/a 7
1963 STL 38 6 21 11 22 37 33 12th 1/16 n/a 5
1964 STL 32 10 7 15 20 37 27 13th 1/16 n/a 9
1965 STL 32 8 3 21 29 69 19 16th 1/16 n/a 10
1966 STL 36 9 10 17 44 59 28 15th 1/16 n/a 11
1967 STL 36 8 15 13 37 50 31 13th 1/16 n/a 10
1968 STL 38 9 10 19 27 48 28 19th 1/16 n/a 11
1969 STL 26 4 6 16 20 50 14 14th 1/16 n/a 16
1970 STL 32 6 11 15 24 42 23 16th 1/8 n/a 9
1971 SFL 42 12 15 15 47 53 39 11th 1/16 n/a 10
1972 SFL 38 19 6 13 49 32 44 5th 1/16 n/a 12
1973 SFL 38 16 4 18 40 46 34 9th 1/16 n/a 8
1974 SFL 38 14 10 14 37 42 38 8th 1/32 n/a , 8
1975 SFL 38 18 13 7 55 31 49 3rd PR n/a Ramaz Shengelia 15
1976 SFL 38 13 15 10 46 38 41 7th R2 n/a Ramaz Shengelia 12
1977 SFL 38 15 8 15 45 48 38 9th R1 n/a 9
1978 SFL 38 14 9 15 44 41 37 9th R1 n/a , 7
1979 SFL 46 17 15 14 44 40 46 11th GS n/a 9
1980 SFL 46 18 9 19 62 54 45 13th GS n/a 9
1981 SFL 46 26 4 16 57 46 56 2nd GS n/a 19
1982 STL 34 10 10 14 39 45 30 13th GS n/a Merab Megreladze 19
1983 STL 34 4 12 18 26 58 18[23] 16th 1/4 n/a Merab Megreladze 8
1984 SFL 42 23 9 10 76 55 55 2nd 1/16 n/a Otar Korghalidze 24
1985 STL 34 11 9 14 40 51 31 11th 1/32 n/a Merab Megreladze 8
1986 STL 30 5 7 18 24 60 17 16th 1/16 GS Otar Korgalidze 8
1987 SFL 42 11 12 19 30 51 34 21st 1/16 , Melori Bigvava, Gocha Gogrichiani, , , , 3
1988 30 24 4 2 70 21 52 1st 1/32 Merab Megreladze 29
1989 SFL 42 18 5 19 69 73 41 13th 1/4 Merab Megreladze 33
1990 UML[24] 34 20 5 9 62 33 65 4th 1/4[25] 10
1991 UML 19 11 2 6 34 30 35 3rd n/a[26] 10
1991–92 UML 38 15 4 19 66 60 49 11th 1/2 David Janashia 17
1992–93 UML 32 16 4 12 70 54 52 5th 1/2 19
1993–94 UML 32 15 7 10 56 49 52 3rd 1/16 13
1994–95 UML 30 14 2 14 58 47 44 6th 1/8 25
1995–96 UML 30 15 7 8 69 49 52 7th 1/4 Mikheil Ashvetia 31
1996–97 UML 30 14 4 12 70 58 46 5th 1/8 Mikheil Ashvetia 24
1997–98 UML 30 15 9 6 51 30 54 4th 1/8 Giorgi Megreladze 17
1998–99 UML 30 21 4 5 73 27 67 2nd Winners Runners-up Intertoto Cup – R2 Zurab Ionanidze 16
1999–00 UML 28 19 7 2 70 16 64 1st Runners-up n/a UEFA Cup – R1 Zurab Ionanidze 27
2000–01 UML 32 20 8 4 49 15 68 1st Winners n/a UEFA Champions League – 2Q Zurab Ionanidze 11
2001–02 UML 32 23 5 4 64 18 74 1st Runners-up n/a UEFA Champions League – 2Q 17
2002–03 UML 32 22 6 4 65 20 72 2nd 1/2 UEFA Champions League – 2Q Zurab Ionanidze 28
2003–04 UML 32 15 6 11 46 38 51 7th Runners-up UEFA Cup – QR Suliko Davitashvili 20
2004–05 UML 36 20 10 6 56 31 70 2nd 1/4 Giorgi Megreladze 23
2005–06 UML 30 8 6 16 28 42 30 12th 1/8 UEFA Cup – 1Q Mamuka Gongadze, 4
2006–07 UML 26 9 4 13 24 35 31 7th[27] 1/4 4
2007–08 PIL 27 11 6 10 38 31 39 11th GS ? ?
2008–09 PIL 30 14 3 13 32 22 45 9th 1/16 ? ?
2009–10 PIL 28 22 4 2 70 12 70 1st R2 14
2010–11 UML 36 14 13 9 31 22 55 4th Runners-up Giorgi Megreladze 14
2011–12 UML 36 20 7 9 50 32 67 3rd 1/4 UEFA Europa League – 1Q Revaz Gotsiridze 13
2012–13 UML 32 19 7 6 57 30 64 3rd 1/4 UEFA Europa League – 1Q Nika Sabanadze 12
2013–14 UML 32 14 6 12 43 44 48 7th 1/4 UEFA Europa League – 1Q Nika Sabanadze 13
2014–15 UML 30 10 11 9 39 33 41 8th 1/4 Otar Kvernadze 10
2015–16 UML 30 14 6 10 50 42 48 6th 1/4 Tornike Kapanadze 9
2016 UML/GW 12 4 3 5 16 12 15 6th Winners Oleg Mamasakhlisi 5
2017 ERL 36 23 7 6 59 27 76 1st Runners-up Runners-up UEFA Europa League – 1Q Tornike Kapanadze 14
2018 ERL 36 20 9 7 66 25 69 3rd Winners Winners UEFA Champions League – 1Q

UEFA Europa League – Play-off

Tornike Kapanadze 21
2019 ERL 36 12 8 16 53 54 44 6th 1/2 Winners UEFA Europa League – 1Q Budu Zivzivadze 13
2020 ERL 20 5 6 9 20 31 17 8th 1/4 Giorgi Pantsulaia 11
2021 ERL 24 5 10 9 22 27 25 7th 1/16 Fadi Zidan 5

Managers[]

Top scorers[]

Season Player Goals
2010/11 5
2011/12 Revaz Gotsiridze 7
2012/13 10
2013/14 6
2014/15 10
2015/16 9
2016 Oleg Mamasakhlisi 5
2017 14
2018 14
2019 Budu Zivzivadze 13
2020 7

Rivalry[]

In the Soviet times Torpedo Kutaisi was the second strongest Georgian club with most talented players regularly taken away by Dinamo Tbilisi. After the independence Torpedo became the first to break the ten-year hegemony of Dinamo in Umaglesi Liga. For four successive years between 1999 and 2002 they won five titles in the league and on the Cup combined. By this period the relationship between the best clubs of Eastern and Western Georgia had become tense. Fierce rivalry on the pitch was aggravated on the stands where skirmishes were not unusual. They resumed after Torpedo's reemergence among the leaders following roughly a decade-long absence.

In 2014 the match in Kutaisi was abandoned as a result of clashes between the fans. Some property was also damaged and the police reported ten detentions.[28] The next year some disturbances erupted during the away game in Tbilisi.[29]

Fans angrily react in cases when a player leaves one club for the other. In 2018-2020 Levan Kutalia, , Roin Kvaskhvadze, Giorgi Kimadze, , Nodar Kavtaradze, Omar Migineishvili as well as managers Kakha Chkhetiani and all moved to Dinamo.[30] So did Budu Zivzivadze some time earlier, although he made a way back afterwards.

At any rate, most of the fans realize that Dinamo and Torpedo desperately need each other as strong rivals and healthy competition between them would only contribute to a better quality of Erovnuli Liga.

Notes and references[]

  1. ^ "Torpedo in the Top League". wildstat.com.
  2. ^ "Georgia 2001". national-football-teams.com.
  3. ^ "Cooperation between Torpedo and Wissol ended". tabula.ge (in Georgian).
  4. ^ "Georgian Cup 2010/11". flashscore.com.
  5. ^ "Torpedi claims the Cup after 15-year pause". kutaisipost.ge (in Georgian).
  6. ^ "Zaal Chachava wins the auction". dailyinfo.ge (in Georgian).
  7. ^ "Erovnuli Liga, 2017". eliga.ge.
  8. ^ "Torpedo win the Super Cup". vbetnews.com (in Georgian).
  9. ^ "Gagra vs Torpedo". soccerway.com.
  10. ^ "GFF names winners for various nominations". popsport.com (in Georgian).
  11. ^ "Georgian Super Cup, 2019". www.flashscore.com.
  12. ^ "Torpedo's unbeaten run ended". popsport.com (in Georgian).
  13. ^ "Events around Torpedo in the past year". kutaisipost.ge (in Georgian).
  14. ^ "Chachava leaves Torpedo Kutaisi". sportall.ge (in Georgian).
  15. ^ "The squad against Saburtalo". sportall.ge.
  16. ^ "Chkhetiani steps down". goal.ge (in Georgian).
  17. ^ "Fabio Mannini: a new era begins". sportall.ge (in Georgian).
  18. ^ "The son of Ramaz Shengelia set to work as Sports director". 1tv.ge (in Georgian).
  19. ^ "Play-offs 2020". eliga.ge.
  20. ^ "Chkhetiani officially confirmed as Torpedo head coach (in Georgian)". sportall.ge. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Squad". Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Torpedo squad". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  23. ^ -2 points
  24. ^ Georgian clubs quit the USSR Football Federation and joined the Georgian Football Federation - federation of native country.
  25. ^ Georgian clubs quit the USSR Football Federation and joined the Georgian Football Federation – federation of native country.
  26. ^ due to changing the basis of the calendar from spring/autumn to autumn/spring, 1991 season the cup competition did not conducted
  27. ^ FC Torpedo Kutaisi was relegated due to financial reasons by GFF. See the final standings
  28. ^ "An incident in Kutaisi". presa.ge (in Georgian).
  29. ^ "Violence on the stadium". kutaisipost.ge (in Georgian).
  30. ^ "Torpedo players who joined DInamo". fanebi.com (in Georgian).

External links[]

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