Temur Ketsbaia

Temuri Ketsbaia

Ketsbaia as manager of Anorthosis in 2008
Personal information
Date of birth18 March 1968
Place of birthGali, Georgia, Soviet Union
Height1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Youth career
1986Dinamo Sukhumi
1987Dinamo Tbilisi
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1987–1992Dinamo Tbilisi104(23)
1992–1994Anorthosis76(36)
1994–1997AEK Athens84(24)
1997–2000Newcastle United78(8)
2000–2001Wolverhampton Wanderers24(3)
2001–2002Dundee22(6)
2002–2006Anorthosis100(39)
Total488(139)
National team
1992–2003Georgia49(16)
Teams managed
2004–2009Anorthosis
2009Olympiacos
2009–2014Georgia
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Temuri "Temur" Ketsbaia (Georgian: თემურ ქეცბაია; born 18 March 1968) is a Georgian football coach and former player. As a player he represented the Georgian national team and played for Dinamo Tbilisi, Anorthosis, AEK, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Dundee.


Playing career

In the summer of 1997 newly signed Ketsbaia scored a goal in extra-time against Croatia Zagreb and won a place for Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.[1]

In England, he is remembered for his celebration after scoring a last-minute winner against Bolton Wanderers in 1998, in which he took off his jersey and kicked the advertising hoardings. He stated that this was to relieve his frustration at being kept out of the Newcastle starting line-up.[2]

On 30 June 2007, Ketsbaia announced his retirement from professional football. His last match before retiring was held on 14 July.[3]

Managerial career

On 28 September 2008, he stated his interest for the vacant Newcastle manager position. In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, he said: "I had a great opportunity to play at Newcastle as a player, so why not as a manager?" [4]

In the week before the match club directors had gone to the police complaining of financial irregularities being carried out by the club President who was forced to resign, despite support from Ketsbaia and club supporters.[5]

In April 2009, Ketsbaia stood down as coach of Anorthosis.[6] On 25 May 2009 the chairman of Olympiacos announced that Ketsbaia had been appointed the club's manager on a three-year deal, replacing Ernesto Valverde;[7] however, on 15 September 2009, Ketsbaia and Olympiacos parted company following early criticism from the club's supporters, despite Olympiakos not conceding a goal during his tenure.[8]

In November 2009 he was announced as manager of the Georgian national side, which he represented 49 times as a player. He claimed that while he could not promise a major tournament in the near future, the team would fight to reach one.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Ketsbaia secures prize at the last". The Independent. 28 August 1997. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Spellman, Damian (1 June 2013). "Ketsbaia determined to be remembered for something other than his crazy celebration". Daily Mail. Press Association. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Ketsbaia announces retirement, Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research. 30 June 2007.
  4. ↑ Ketsbaia wants Newcastle job, Sunday Mirror 28 September 2008.
  5. ↑ Embattled Anorthosis boss stands down, Cyprus Mail, 2 December 2008
  6. ↑ "Ketsbaia calls it quits at Anorthosis". UEFA.com. 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2009-04-14.
  7. ↑ Griechenland: Valverde musste trotz des Doubles gehen: Ketsbaia übernimmt Olympiakos
  8. ↑ "Ketsbaia leaves Olympiakos". skysports.com. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  9. ↑ "Temuri Ketsbaia appointed as new Georgia coach". goal.com. 2009-11-06.

External links