FC Gagra

Twenty years ago, people missing their home and their land united and brought “Gagra” to Tbilisi. A small football club at that time was a step forward for them on the way back. “Gagra” was founded in 2004 by Besik Chikhradze, Giorgi Makhatadze, Mamuka Makhatadze and Goderdzi Chikhradze, a Georgian businessman working in Ukraine, originally from Gagra. For the common dream, pain and football love, they decided to name the club “Gagra”. That’s how the “Gagra” club was born. The idea of ​​creating a club was further accelerated by the departure of the promising young generation. In 2003-2004, the first draw of the youth league was held, where only teams of the highest league could participate. The high-level tournament ended with the championship of the Goderdzi Chikhradze team, which then competed under the name of Gagri. Over the years, “Gagra” football club has become a symbol not only for the founders, but also for the Georgian people of not forgetting and returning to their own land. The 20 years spent with the dream were not easy, but the club still managed to come this far with dignity. At that time, establishing oneself in Georgian football was not so easy. Nevertheless, the newly formed club “Gagra” constantly occupied the leading positions in the standings of the first league, although it was not able to move to the higher league. In 2007, he lost to Sachkheri “Chikhura” in the playoffs, and in 2008, he lost to Tskhinvali “Spartak” and said goodbye to the journey of the higher league. In addition to selfless work and struggle, little justification was needed. In the 2008/09 season, “Gagra” was allowed to participate in the draw of the national championship of the higher league after the decision of the board of the professional football league, the Chiaturi “Magharoeli” club failed to meet the licensing criteria. “Gagra” submitted financial guarantees and met all the necessary requirements. Gagreli used this opportunity brilliantly – the team sensationally defeated the current champion Tbilisi “Dinamo” in the very first match. “Gagra” spent two seasons in the higher league and then was relegated to the first league. The 2010/11 season was written in golden letters in the history of the club. At that time, “Gagra” proved that he deserved the right to compete in the top league, and this was not just an excuse. The club went through the most difficult path to the finals. First, they defeated “Kolkheti” of Poti and “Dinamo” of Tbilisi, then they knocked out “Vit Georgia” from the semi-finals, and in the final they defeated “Torpedo” of Kutaisi and for the first time in history the team became the champion of the first league and the winner of the country’s cup. At that time, sports journalists named the club “Gagra” as the discovery of the year. After the historic victories, the club won the right to participate in the UEFA Europa League draw and competed in the debut European tournaments. With this victory, “Gagra” managed to bring the club’s name and history to the European football world. It wasn’t just a football celebration for the club; In addition to sports success, the essence and idea of ​​creating “Gagra” is to return to the city of Gagra and play there. All this seems impossible without the European family. In the second qualifying stage of the Europa League, “Gagra” also met the refugee team “Anoirtos”. Gagreli lost the first match as a guest with a score of 3-0, but despite the heavy defeat, they defeated the opponent with a score of 2-0 in Zestafon with the goals of Giorgi Gabedava and Giorgi Tkeshelashvili. In the end, “Gagra” lost 2-3 in two matches. In 2019, “Gagra” regained its old glory and managed to regain its place in the top league, where it competes decently to this day. In 2020, in the harshest conditions during the COVID pandemic, in the background of empty stands, the club once again deserved the Georgian Cup, which was proof that “Gagra” once again overcame difficulties and moved to a ne