FC Merani Martvili

FC Merani Martvili is a Georgian association football club based in Martvili, currently participating in Liga 2, the second division of Georgian league system.

Merani Martvili
Full nameFootball Club Merani Martvili
Founded2006
GroundMunicipal Stadium
Martvili, Georgia
Capacity1,850
LeagueErovnuli Liga 2
20208th

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 Pridon Injia in 2006.[1]

In their first season in Pirveli liga under head coach Malkhaz Zhvania Merani came the third and until the promotion to Umaglesi Liga in 2011/12 they were among 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 got promoted to the top flight.

During the five following seasons in Umaglesi Liga Merani achieved the best result in their first year, reaching 5th place, while in other cases the club was mostly involved in relegation groups.

In 2015/16 Merani were relegated. The same year, though, they managed to book a place in the Cup final after having eliminated Dila, Kolkheti-1913 and Chikhura in previous rounds. Torpedo Kutaisi won the game held in Zestafoni and clinched the Cup.[3]

Merani came close back to Erovnuli Liga in 2017, although they were unable to beat Kolkheti Poti in promotion play-offs.[4]

At the end of the next season Merani lost last two league games and surprisingly finished at the bottom of the table, which implied an automatic relegation.[5]

After one year spent in Liga 3 Merani returned to the second division. In 2020 they retained a place in it after the victory over FC Gori in a play-off tie.[6]

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.[7]

Seasons
Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Notes
2007/08 Pirveli Liga 3 271359 362544
2008/09 Pirveli Liga 3 301866 452460 Quarter-finals
2009/10 Pirveli Liga 3 281729 443153 Semi-finals
2010/11 Pirveli Liga 2 322273 601573 Round of 16 Promoted
2011/12 Umaglesi Liga 8 286319 315521 Quarter-finals
2012/13 Umaglesi Liga 8 227213 233623 Round of 32 Relegation group
2013/14 Umaglesi Liga 12 224315 164115 Round of 8 Relegation group
2014/15 Umaglesi Liga 11 309912 293336 Round of 16
2015/16 Umaglesi Liga 15 305817 286223 Round of 32 Relegated
2016 Liga 2 White Group 4 16952 311126 Runner-up Relegation play-off, won
2017 Liga 2 2 362484 671680 Round of 8 Promotion play-off, lost
2018 Liga 2 10 3681216 364736 Round of 16 Relegated
2019 Liga 3 1 362646 782482 Round of 8 Promoted
2020 Liga 2 8 18666 232030 Round of 32 Relegation play-off, won

Current squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  GEO Zurab Mamaladze
2 GK  RUS Petr Sevostyanenko
3 DF  GEO Giorgi Gegia
4 DF  GEO Vasil Gogolidze
7 DF  GEO Kachi Meliava
8 DF  GEO Sergi Orbeladze
9 DF  GEO Mikheil Rukhaia
10 DF  GEO Irakli Tsitskhvaia
11 DF  GEO Giorgi Tsimakuridze
12 MF  GEO Zaur Goguadze
13 MF  GEO Lasha Jghamaia
14 MF  GEO Ivane Khabelashvili
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF  UKR Akaki Tskarozia
16 MF  GEO Nodar Kiknavelidze
17 MF  GEO Alexander Shengelia
18 MF  NGA Benjamin Opeyemi Teidi
19 MF  GEO Imeda Ashortia
21 FW  GEO Besik Chimakadze
22 FW  GEO Shota Jikia
23 FW  GEO Sabanadze
24 FW  GEO Jaba Ugulava
— FW  UKR Serhiy Tretyak
— FW  UKR Taras Puchkovskyi

Stadium

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

In February 2017 this arena hosted the Georgian Super Cup game between Samtredia and Torpedo Kutaisi.[8]

Honours
  • Pirveli Liga
    • Silver Medal winner: 2011
    • Bronze Medal winner: 2008, 2009, 2010
  • David Kipiani Cup
    • Runners-up 2016

Managers

Name

Merani is a Georgian word for pegasus.


References
  1. "History of the club". fcmerani.ge (in Georgian).
  2. "Georgian Cup 2009-10". soccerway.com.
  3. "Torpedo win a new title". kutaisipost.ge (in Georgian).
  4. "Merani vs Kolkheti". eliga.ge.
  5. "Pirveli liga 2018". soccerway.com.
  6. "Merani to remain in Liga 2". 1tv.ge (in Georgian).
  7. "Jesi Surmava confirms the take-over". 1tv.ge (in Georgian).
  8. "Super Cup game to be held in Martvili". goal.ge.
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