Season review: Georgia
Friday, June 5, 2015
Article summary
Youth was the theme of the 2014/15 campaign as a 19-year-old was crowned player of the season and a man just six years his senior led FC Dila Gori to their maiden championship.
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Champions: FC Dila Gori
Few were tipping Dila among the title candidates as the season got under way, not least because their coach Ucha Sosiashvili only turned 25 a few days before the kick-off. "They say experience is key to success at this level, but my example shows it can work the other way," he told UEFA.com after guiding the club to their maiden Georgian Premier League title. Sixteen goals from 30-year-old Irakli Modebadze were crucial.
Cup final: FC Dinamo Tbilisi 5-0 FC Samtredia
Dinamo Tbilisi staggered towards the end of the league campaign, eventually stumbling over the line in third, yet they returned to form in the most one-sided Georgian Cup final ever. Manuel Onwu and Giorgi Papunashvili scored twice apiece as the capital outfit secured a third successive Georgian Cup and 12th in all – nine more than any other team.
European places*
FC Dila Gori – UEFA Champions League second qualifying round
FC Dinamo Tbilisi – UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
FC Dinamo Batumi – UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
Tskhinvali – UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
*subject to final confirmation from UEFA
Player of the year: Giorgi Papunashvili (FC Dinamo Tbilisi)
Papunashvili was young player of the year last season but made the step up this term, filling the void left by December's departure of Xisco. If injury restricted the 19-year-old to 21 top-flight outings, his impact was huge nonetheless – 14 goals and two more in the cup final. "The final was our most important match: Dinamo Tbilisi can't finish the season without a trophy," said the Georgia midfielder.
One to watch: Nika Kacharava (Tskhinvali)
Kacharava is two years older than Papunashvili, and he too caught the eye. Having failed to make the breakthrough at FC Rubin Kazan, he joined his father Kakhaber Kacharava, the coach at Tskhinvali, and his 12 goals helped inspire the side to fourth position and a UEFA Europea League spot.
Top scorer: Irakli Modebadze (FC Dila Gori) – 16
Relegated: FC Metalurgi Rustavi, FC WIT Georgia, FC Zestafoni
Promoted: FC Sapovnela Terjola, FC Saburtalo, FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi
