Jano Ananidze

Jano Ananidze

Personal information
Full name	Jano Amiranovich Ananidze
Date of birth	(1992-10-10) 10 October 1992
Place of birth	Kobuleti, Georgia
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) [1]
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	FC Rostov (on loan from Spartak Moscow)
Number	49
Youth career
2003–2005	Dinamo Tbilisi
2005–2007	Dinamo Kiev
2007–2009	Spartak Moscow
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–	Spartak Moscow	61	(8)
2013–	→ FC Rostov (on loan)	15	(1)
National team‡
2007	Georgia U-16	4	(3)
2007–2009	Georgia U-17	13	(0)
2009	Georgia U-19	2	(1)
2009–2013	Georgia U-21	6	(2)
2009–	Georgia	21	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 December 2013. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 June 2013

Jano Ananidze (Georgian: ჯანო ანანიძე; born 10 October 1992 in Kobuleti)^[2] is a Georgian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for FC Rostov on loan from Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League.

Club career

Spartak Moscow

Ananidze playing for Spartak

Ananidze appeared in FC Spartak colours in spring of 2009, initially playing for its junior's team, scoring four goals in twelve games.^[2] During the midseason break Valery Karpin moved Ananidze from juniors into the main team, then on a training tour in Austria.^[2] Ananidze debuted in Russian Cup on 15 July 2009, scoring a goal against first division Krasnodar.^[3] On 1 August 2009 Ananidze debuted in regular Russian Premier League 2009 championship, substituting Alex in the 69th minute of the game.^[4]

On the 18th of October 2009, he became the youngest player ever to score a goal in the Russian Premier League (he scored for Spartak Moscow against Lokomotiv Moscow when he was 17 years and 8 days old).

After a successful ending of his debut season, Jano was on the radar of Arsenal and Liverpool.^[5] But the rumours were later denied by Spartak Moscow sporting director Dmitri Popov, who insisted the club would not listen to offers until Ananidze was at least in his 20s.^[6][7]

In September 2012, before the 2014 World Cup qualification match against Spain, Iker Casillas named Ananidze as one of the key players of the Georgia national football team alongside the keeper Giorgi Loria.^[8]

FC Rostov

On 3 July 2013 he went on a one-year loan to FC Rostov.^[9]

International career

In March 2009 UEFA web site listed Ananidze as one of three "key players" of Georgian U-17 team along with Nika Dzalamidze and Irakli Shekiladze.^[10] In July 2009 Ananidze received and accepted Héctor Cúper's invitation into Georgian national team.^[11] Ananidze told Russian media "don't worry about me. I made my choice. I am a Georgian and I will play for my country." (Russian: "переживать не стоит. Я сделал свой выбор. Я грузин и буду играть за сборную своей страны").^[12]

Nowadays, Jano is a crucial player for Georgia U-21 side, with which he has scored his first international goal on 3 March 2010, against Estonia U-21.^[13] He made his debut for Georgia in a 0-2 home defeat by Italy on 5 September 2009. He scored his first goal against Slovenia in Koper on 17 November 2010. Then he scored against Moldova from the penalty spot and Georgia won this match 2-0 on 11 November 2011.

Career statistics

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	17 November 2010	Bonifika Stadium, Koper, Slovenia	Slovenia	1–2	1–2	Friendly
2.	11 November 2011	Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia	Moldova	3–0	3–0	Friendly

Honors

FC Spartak Moscow

• Russian Premier League runner-up (2): 2009, 2011-12

External links

• (Russian) Player profile at Spartak official web-site
• (Russian) RFPL player profile
• Soccerway profile
• UEFA player profile

Notes