FC Zestafoni

Football Club Zestafoni is a Georgian football club based in Zestafoni. They play in the Umaglesi Liga, the top division in Georgian football. They play their home games at David Abashidze Stadium. FC “Zestafoni” was founded on 18 of June, 2004 by the initiative of the shareholders of JSC “Giorgi Nikoladze Zestafoni Ferro-Alloy Plant”. From the same year FC “Zestafoni” is engaged in the National Championship of Georgia among the highest league teams.

Currently, FC “Zestafoni” presents one large football mechanism. Part of the whole system is “Zestafoni – 2” (first participant of the first league of Georgian Championship) and teams of football players born in 1993, 1994 and 1995, that compete among youngsters and children’s league of Georgian Championship.

History

FC Metalurgi Zestafoni(1937–1989)

Young footballers, 1920 -ns From the beginning of the 20th century football was given rise in Georgia. In 1906 the first football fan club was founded in Tbilisi. This happened by the patronage of Mr. Lgotac. He was the one who on the 23rd of February 1907 established the first Football Club in Georgia. The Club, called “Comet”, had its own regulations, funds, uniforms and a stadium.

Though it should be mentioned, that football was played far earlier in Georgia, mainly in the sea-side cities, first of all in Poti, where local groups competed in “passing/tossing a ball” with British mariners. That’s why Poti is considered to be a cradle of Georgian football.

"Metallurgi", 1937 As to Zestafoni, in out city, football has been played since the beginning of the 20th century. First football players from Zestafoni were students of the local gymnasium (currently secondary school #1). According to our data, Zestafoni football team held its first match with one of the clubs of western Georgia (according to different sources Senaki or Ozurgeti) in 1918, during a celebration organized to commemorate Independence of Georgia. First international match held in Zestafoni was also during the independence period, in 1920. Zestafoni team competed with a group of British Occupational Forces and defeated it by 2–1.

In the 20’s Zestafoni football players held various matches with teams of neighboring cities. In 1927 first Football Championship in held in Georgia. First Champion of Georgia is Batumi Team.

"Metallurgi", 1948 In 30’s two football teams are established in Zestafoni – “Mertskhali” (Swallow) and “Locomotive”, that often take part in local and regional tournaments.

A truly new era in the history of Zestafoni football starts form the second half of the 30’s, after a metallurgical giant, Zestafoni Ferro-Alloy Plant” has been put into exploitation (actually even now plant and football develop side by side). It was by the initiative of professional committee of the plant, that a meeting of workers of the physical culture was held on May 10, 1937. A decision of establishing a football team was made on the meeting. The team was called “Metallurgi”

Georgian Cups Winner -"Metallurgi", 1962. In August 1938, “Metallurgi” participates in the union tournament held by sport-society “metallurgist” in Minsk, where the team defeats Moscow “Electrostal”, Staliningrad “Krasni Oktiabr”, Leningrad “Metallurg” teams and loses in final to “Serp i Molot”. In 1938 Zestafoni “Metallurgi” is engaged in Georgian Championship, where it participates regularly until 1989.

In various years “Metallurgi” was:

Silver medalist of Georgian Championship – In 1967, 1970, 1982 years;

Finalist of Georgian Cup – In 1966, 1967, 1971 years;

Winner of Georgian Cup – In 1962.

Various football players from “Metallurgi” played for leading Georgian Football Clubs on various degrees, for example:

Vice-Champion of Georgia "Metallurgi " – 1970 Tbilisi “Locomotive” – Guram Shavdia, Zaur Chubinidze; Kutaisi “Torpedo” – Guram Nishnianidze; Tbilisi “Dinamo” – Giorgi (Jora) Chumburidze, Guram Kochiashvili, Dodik Khundadze, Guram Petriashvili, Kartlos Tsintsadze, Nodar Kiknadze.

In 1990, a new club for the city was formed, FC Margveti Zestafoni represent Zestafoni in newly formed Pirveli Liga.

Metalurgi Zestafoni (1999–2004)

As FC Margveti Zestafoni faced financial problem and relegated in 1998. A new club using the city legend team name Metallurgi Zestafoni was formed in 1999. The club promoted to Umaglesi Liga in 2001. But the club faced financial problem and relegated in 2003. In 2003–04, the club finished bottom in Pirveli Liga and disestablished .

FC Zestafoni (2004–)

On June 18, 2004 FC Zestafoni was established. The club was invited to join Umaglesi Liga

Seasons

Season	League	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GF	GA	P	Cup	Europe	Notes	Manager
1999–2000	?
2000–01	Pirveli Liga									Round of 16		Promoted
2001–02	Umaglesi Liga	11								Round of 16
2002–03	Umaglesi Liga	12								Round of 32		Relegated
2003–04	Pirveli Liga	16	30	2	1	27	18	87	7	Round of 32
2004–05	Umaglesi Liga	5	36	16	5	15	38	48	53	Runner-up
2005–06	Umaglesi Liga	4	30	18	7	5	44	22	61	Runner-up
2006–07	Umaglesi Liga	4	26	16	9	1	55	11	57	Runner-up
2007–08	Umaglesi Liga	3	26	18	5	3	56	16	59	Winner	Intertoto 1st Round
2008–09	Umaglesi Liga	4	30	16	4	10	43	27	52	Quarter-finals	UEFA Cup 1st qualifying round
2009–10	Umaglesi Liga	3	36	19	10	7	58	33	67	Quarter-finals	UEFA Europa League 2nd qualifying round
2010–11	Umaglesi Liga	1	36	24	6	6	72	19	78	Semi-finals	UEFA Europa League 3rd qualifying round
2011–12	Umaglesi Liga	'							'		UEFA Champions League 2011–12

Stadium

David Abashidze Stadium (former Central) stadium, that was built by Zestafoni Ferro-alloy Plant, started operating in 1952. Though a couple of matches were held on the stadium before its opening in 1951.

In 1952–1989 and 1999–2003 participant of Georgian Championship, FC “Metallurgi” held matches on the Zestafoni central stadium, in 1990–1998 it was a home stadium for FC “Margveti”.

Since 2004 FC Zestafoni is holding domestic matches on the stadium.

In 1981 reconstruction works were done on arena, west stand was roofed, east stand was constructed, after these works capacity of the Stadium increased to 8000 seats.

In 2004, after establishing FC Zestafoni, central Stadium was repaired and is still being repaired to renew the arena and comply with international standards.

In 2005 works were done to renew the grass surface on the Stadium. Georgian workers have constructed new drainage system of German technology. Field is watered by a watering system of an American Company “Rainbird” (by the way this watering system was successfully used on 8 Stadiums during 2004 European Championship in Portugal).

On the David Abashidze Stadium (former Central) Stadium field surface “Natural Green Carpet” is made by Turkish Firm “Chimeks”. Production of this firm is used on the home arenas of “Beshiktash” and Fenebarche, besides on Tbilisi stadium “Olimp”. We should also mention, that project director was a famous specialist Levan Tskhovrebashvili.

FC Zestafoni management plans to build a new base for the club. Lots of new football fields have been constructed in Zestafoni (among them one with an artificial surface). Relevant infrastructure is being made – work out rooms are being repaired, building of a new tribunes with personal seats is planned, along with the installment of a modern score-board.

Today capacity of the Stadium increased to 4 558 individual seats.

On 9 April 2010 the stadium was named after David Abashidze who contributed tremendously to the development and revival of football in Zestafoni.

Eurocups record

Club management and support staff

Current squad

As of 4 july 2011

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

Former players

Kit providers and sponsors

Zestafoni Reserve

• Zestafoni-2

Seasons

Season	League	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GF	GA	P	Notes	Manager
2001–02	Regionuli Liga West
2004–05	Regionuli Liga West									Promoted
2005–06	Pirveli Liga	15	34	9	9	16	23	44	36
2006–07	Pirveli Liga	12	34	10	10	14	34	40	40
2007–08	Pirveli Liga West	4	27	12	4	11	39	28	40
2008–09	Pirveli Liga West	10	30	7	6	17	26	47	27
2009–10	Reserve's League	6	27	10	9	8	46	38	39
2010–11	Reserve's League	2	36	19	5	12	95	53	62

• Zestafoni-3

Season	League	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GF	GA	P	Notes	Manager
2005–06	Regionuli Liga West

External links

• Official website
• Fan-club website