Irakli Khutsidze

Irakli Khutsidze
ირაკლი ხუციძე
Personal information
Full nameIrakli Khutsidze
Date of birth16 April 1990
Place of birthKutaisi, Georgia
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing positionDefensive Midfielder
Defender
Club information
Current team
Dayton Dutch Lions
Number7
Youth career
2007-2009FC Ameri Tbilisi
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2009–2010Baia Zugdidi7(1)
2010–2012FC Gagra37(2)
2013–Dayton Dutch Lions35(0)
National team
2008Georgia U191(0)
2009Georgia U21
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 September 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 July 2013

Irakli Khutsidze (Georgian: ირაკლი ხუციძე; born 16 April 1990 in Kutaisi) is a Georgian footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Dayton Dutch Lions of the USL Pro.

Career

Club

From 2007-2009, Khutsidze worked his way through the ranks at FC Ameri Tbilisi. He appeared for the first team during the 2008-2009 season, scoring 4 goals in 27 matches. At the time, Ameri played in the Pirveli Liga, Georgia's second division. In 2009, Khutsidze was signed to the senior squad of Baia Zugdidi of the Georgian Premier League. Khutsidze played in 7 league matches and scored 1 goal during his year with the club.[1] The following season, Khutsidze signed for FC Gagra, also of the Georgian Premier League. In 2011, he captained the team, helping the club become league champions and qualifying them to compete in 2011–12 UEFA Europa League qualifying.[2] Khutsidze played in both of Gagra's matches in the tournament but the team was ultimately eliminated from qualification 2-3 on aggregate by Anorthosis Famagusta FC of Cyprus.[3] In June 2012, Khutsidze trialed with and appeared in a reserve league match for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer despite offers to play in Ukraine.[4][5]

After not being signed by the Crew, Khutsidze returned to Gagra.[6] On 4 February 2013, it was announced that Khutsidze's contract with FC Gagra had been terminated by mutual consent.[7] It was then announced on 10 April 2013 that Khutsidze had signed for the Dayton Dutch Lions of the USL Pro, the third division of United States soccer league system for the 2013 season.[2] On 20 April 2013, Khutsidze made his debut for Dayton in the opening game of the season, a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.[8] Khutsidze finished the 2013 USL Pro season with a total of 25 league appearances, tallying three assists.[9]

On 24 March 2014, it was announced that Khutsidze had resigned with the Dutch Lions for the 2014 USL Pro season.[10]

International

In 2009, Khutsidze appeared in a U21 friendly against Belarus. Khutsidze was part of Georgia's squad for qualification for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.[3]

References

  1. "Irakli Khutsidze Profile". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Dutch Lions Unveil Five Signings". USL Pro. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "UEFA Profile". UEFA. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  4. Jardy, Adam. "Lineup Options Plentiful For Sunday". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  5. "Irakli Khutsidze-soccerstats". soccerstats.us. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  6. "ირაკლი ხუციძე ამერიკაში ლეგიონერებზე ლიმიტის გამო ვერ დარჩა" (in Georgian). sportall.ge. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  7. ""გაგრა" კაპიტანმა დატოვა" (in Georgian). worldsport.ge. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  8. "Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Dayton Dutch Lions 1:2". USL Pro. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  9. "Dayton Dutch Lions 2013 Statistics". USL Pro. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  10. "Trio Of Players Return To Dayton". USL Pro. Retrieved 27 March 2014.

External links