Malkhaz Asatiani

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Personal information
Malkhaz Asatiani
Full name	Malkhaz Asatiani
Date of birth	August 4, 1981 (1981-08-04) (age 26)
Place of birth	Kutaisi, Soviet Union
Playing position	Central Defender/Defensive Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Lokomotiv Moscow
Number	30
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1999-2003 2003-present	Torpedo Kutaisi Lokomotiv Moscow	76 (15) 85 (5)
National team²
2001-	Georgia	30 (4)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 January, 2008. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 22 February, 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Malkhaz Asatiani (Georgian: მალხაზ ასათიანი, Russian: Малхаз Асатиани) is a football defender/midfielder from Georgia who now plays for Lokomotiv Moscow. He started as an attacking midfielder but his displays at the back earned him a solid reputation as a central defender. Mostly playing as center-back at his club, Asatiani is often used as a playmaker for the national team. His passing, technical skills and eye for decisive goals make him an extremely versatile player.

For the NT, Malkhaz has played 18 international matches and scored 4 goals since his debut in 2001. One of the goals came against rivals Russia in a Euro 2004 qualifying match, something for which Asatiani received praise. He also scored important goals in the 2006 World Cup qualifying phase, but Georgia failed to reach the finals.

His club career started in Torpedo Kutaisi. During his stay of three and a half years the team won the Georgian league title three years in a row. He earned a transfer to Russian team Lokomotiv Moscow, where he plays today. He plays mostly as a defender at the club and mostly as a midfielder in the national team.