FC Merani Martvili

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Merani Martvili
FC Merani Martvili logo.png
Full nameFootball Club Merani Martvili
Founded2006
Ground Murtaz Khurtsilava Stadium
Martvili
Capacity1,850
ManagerJesi Surmava
League Liga 3
2023 9th of 10 (relegated), Liga 2
Website Club website

FC Merani Martvili is a Georgian association football club based in Martvili. Following the 2023 season, they were relegated Liga 3, the third division of the Georgian league system.

Contents

Being one of the youngest clubs, Merani have spent five seasons in the top division and once reached the final of David Kipiani Cup.

History

Football clubs from Martvili have previously been called Salkhino Gegechkori (Soviet times), Chkondidi Martvili and Salkhino Martvili.

FC Merani was founded by Georgian ex-minister of communications Fridon Injia in 2006. [1]

In their first season in Pirveli liga under head coach Malkhaz Zhvania, Merani came 3rd and until the promotion to Umaglesi Liga in 2011/12 they stayed among the top five clubs.

In 2010, Merani became a first II league club to play in David Kipiani Cup semifinals where they lost 1-2 on aggregate to WIT Georgia, the Cup winners of the season. [2] The next year Merani successfully completed their season and as a second-placed team gained promotion to the top flight.

During the next five seasons in Umaglesi Liga Merani achieved the best result in their first year when they came 5th during the regular season and earned a place in the championship round. In other cases, the club was mostly involved in relegation battles.

In 2015/16, Merani were relegated. In the same year, they managed to reach the Cup final after having eliminated Dila, Kolkheti-1913 and Chikhura in previous rounds, but in the title-deciding game held in Zestafoni the team was beaten by Torpedo Kutaisi. [3]

Merani came close back to Erovnuli Liga in 2017, although they were unable to beat Kolkheti Poti in promotion play-offs.

At the end of the next season Merani lost the last two league games and surprisingly finished at the bottom of the table, which implied an automatic relegation. [4] After one year spent in Liga 3 though they returned to the second division.

In early 2021, Pridon Injia quit the club and Jesi Surmava, the head of Martvili Football School, took over the management, which resulted in major changes among both staff and squad members. [5] 27 year-old head coach Tsotne Moniava in his first year in charge of a professional club was named the Manager of Round IV (October-December) after guiding Merani to the bronze medals and promotion playoffs. Besides, Merani's two players were included in the symbolic team. [6] Despite a two-goal advantage achieved at home after the first game against Torpedo Kutaisi, the club suffered a heart-breaking extra-time defeat during a dramatic and action-packed return leg. [7]

Seasons

SeasonDiv.Pos.Pl.WDLGFGAP Cup Notes
2007/08 2nd3271359362544
2008/09 2nd3301866452460Quarter-finals
2009/10 2nd3281729443153Semi-finals
2010/11 2nd2322273601573Round of 16Promoted
2011/12 1st8286319315521Quarter-finals
2012/13 1st8227213233623Round of 32Relegation group
2013/14 1st12224315164115Round of 8Relegation group
2014/15 1st11309912293336Round of 16
2015/16 1st15305817286223Round of 32Relegated
2016 2nd416952311126Runner-upRelegation play-off, won
2017 2nd2362484671680Round of 8Promotion play-off, lost
2018 2nd103681216364736Round of 16Relegated
2019 3rd1362646782482Round of 8Promoted
2020 2nd818666232030Round of 32Relegation play-off, won
2021 2nd33619710654464Round of 16Promotion play-off, lost
2022 2nd42812610555342Round of 16
2023 2nd9366822348426Round of 32Relegated

Current squad

As of 16 March 2024 [8]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  UZB Akrom Khojaev
2 MF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Giorgi Gvasalia
3 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Aleksandre Abuladze
4 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Giorgi Oniani
6 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Roin Chkhaidze
7 FW Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  UZB Javokhir Esankulov
8 MF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Luka Kadaria
9 MF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Irakli Pipia
10 MF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Rati Tsatskrialashvili
11 FW Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Erasto Smirnovi
17 MF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Giorgi Gadrani
No.Pos.NationPlayer
18 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Saba Tsulaia
19 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Davit Khorava
20 MF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Tamaz Sharvashidze
27 FW Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Andro Jolokhava
30 MF Flag of Russia.svg  RUS Renat Gagity
31 GK Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Davit Asatiani
32 GK Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Aleksandre Chikhadze
33 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Bakar Laghadze (Captain)
35 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Lasha Chaladze
40 DF Flag of Georgia.svg  GEO Lasha Oniani

Other teams

Merani also have a reserve team, which as Merani-2 competes in Liga 4. [9]

Stadium

Merani plays home matches at Murtaz Khurtsilava stadium, which has the capacity of 1,850 seats.

In February 2017 this arena hosted the Georgian Super Cup game. [10]

Honours

Name

Merani is a Georgian word for pegasus .

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References

  1. ↑ "საფეხბურთო კლუბი მარტვილის „მერანი"". fcmerani.ge (in Georgian).
  2. ↑ "Georgian Cup 2009-10". soccerway.com.
  3. ↑ "ტორპედო საქართველოს თასის მფლობელია". kutaisipost.ge (in Georgian).
  4. ↑ "Pirveli liga 2018". soccerway.com.
  5. ↑ "ჯესი სურმავა: "მერანის" გადმოცემის პროცესი ნამდვილად მიმდინარეობს". 1tv.ge (in Georgian).
  6. ↑ "ეროვნული ლიგა 2-ის მეოთხე წრის საუკეთესო ფეხბურთელი, მწვრთნელი და სიმბოლური გუნდი". vbetnews.com (in Georgian).
  7. ↑ "დრამა და ქამბექი ქუთაისში – ტორპედო ეროვნულ ლიგაში დარჩა". leadersport.ge (in Georgian).
  8. ↑ "Merani players". soccerway.com.
  9. ↑ "Liga 4, 2021". gff.ge.
  10. ↑ "სად ჩატარდება საქართველოს სუპერთასის მატჩი". goal.ge (in Georgian).


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