Georgi Kiknadze
Encyclopedia
Georgi Kiknadze is a Georgian
footballer and coach who played for FC Dinamo Tbilisi
, FC Torpedo Kutaisi
, Samsunspor
, Freiburg
, Lokomotivi Tbilisi
, Spartaki Tblisi
and the Georgian national team
as a midfielder
. As part of the Dinamo Tbilisi team he won the Umaglesi Liga
five times running from 1994 to 1998, and the Georgian Cup
four years running from 1994 to 1997. He was also a runner-up in the Georgian Cup in 1998.
Kiknadze joined Turkish club Samsunspor
in October 1999, but stayed only one season, making just four appearances before moving to SC Freiburg
in Germany. He failed to make the first team in his two seasons in Germany, and in 2003 he was released by Freiburg. He then returned to Georgia, where he played for Lokomotivi Tbilisi
and later Spartaki Tblisi
.
He made his international debut on 5 December 1996 in a friendly match against Lebanon
. Kiknadze captained the side in a 4–2 defeat, scoring Georgia's second goal. He obtained the last of his ten international caps on 28 April 1999, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 loss against Norway
.
Kiknadze started the 2006–07 season as coach of Olimpi Rustavi, entering coaching at the relatively young age of 30. This was Olimpi Rustavi's first season of existence; the club formed in 2006 following a merger between FC Tbilisi
and FC Rustavi. At the start of the season Kiknadze led the club to a run of eight matches without conceding a single goal. However, midway through the season, with Olimpi leading the league, Kiknadze left the club after failing to agree terms on a new contract. Olimpi continued the good form they had enjoyed under Kiknadze, and won the league title. Kiknadze subsequently became coach at Torpedo Kutaisi
, but just stayed in the job just one month. He became the coach of Lokomotivi Tbilisi
on 7 April 2007.
Kiknadze's nephew Levan Kenia
is also a professional footballer, playing for German club Schalke
.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
footballer and coach who played for FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi is a Georgian football team, based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.Dinamo Tbilisi was one of the most prominent clubs in Soviet football and a major contender in the Soviet Top League almost immediately after it was established in 1936...
, FC Torpedo Kutaisi
FC Torpedo Kutaisi
FC Torpedo Kutaisi is a Georgian professional football club based in Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city. ‘Torpedo Kutaisi’ was founded in 1946 and in just three years the club became the winner of the Football Championship of that time. By the end of 1964, the Football Federation of the former...
, Samsunspor
Samsunspor
Samsunspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Samsun. The club was formed through a merger of five clubs: 19 Mayıs, Akınspor, Fener Gençlik, Samsunspor, and Samsunspor Galatasaray. The club colours are red and white, and they play their home matches at Samsun 19 Mayıs...
, Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
, Lokomotivi Tbilisi
FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi
FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi is a Georgian football club from the capital, Tbilisi. During the existence of the USSR the club was a part of the Lokomotiv Voluntary Sports Society. The club has strong connections with the Georgian Railways.-History:*1936: Founded....
, Spartaki Tblisi
FC Spartaki Tbilisi
FC Spartaki Tbilisi is an Georgian football club based in Tbilisi. They currently play at the third highest level, Meore Liga's Centre Zone. They play their home games at Shevardeni Stadium.- Previous names :* 1946—1947: Krylya Sovetov Tbilisi...
and the Georgian national team
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. As part of the Dinamo Tbilisi team he won the Umaglesi Liga
Umaglesi Liga
The Georgian Top League is the top division of football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union...
five times running from 1994 to 1998, and the Georgian Cup
Georgian Cup
The Georgian Cup is the main "knockout" cup competition in Georgian football.The competition is a knockout tournament.Previous winners are:-Soviet era cup winners:* 1944: Team of Sukhumi* 1945: Dinamo Sukhumi...
four years running from 1994 to 1997. He was also a runner-up in the Georgian Cup in 1998.
Kiknadze joined Turkish club Samsunspor
Samsunspor
Samsunspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Samsun. The club was formed through a merger of five clubs: 19 Mayıs, Akınspor, Fener Gençlik, Samsunspor, and Samsunspor Galatasaray. The club colours are red and white, and they play their home matches at Samsun 19 Mayıs...
in October 1999, but stayed only one season, making just four appearances before moving to SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
in Germany. He failed to make the first team in his two seasons in Germany, and in 2003 he was released by Freiburg. He then returned to Georgia, where he played for Lokomotivi Tbilisi
FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi
FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi is a Georgian football club from the capital, Tbilisi. During the existence of the USSR the club was a part of the Lokomotiv Voluntary Sports Society. The club has strong connections with the Georgian Railways.-History:*1936: Founded....
and later Spartaki Tblisi
FC Spartaki Tbilisi
FC Spartaki Tbilisi is an Georgian football club based in Tbilisi. They currently play at the third highest level, Meore Liga's Centre Zone. They play their home games at Shevardeni Stadium.- Previous names :* 1946—1947: Krylya Sovetov Tbilisi...
.
He made his international debut on 5 December 1996 in a friendly match against Lebanon
Lebanon national football team
The Lebanon national football team represents the Republic of Lebanon in international association football. Their official nickname is The Cedars...
. Kiknadze captained the side in a 4–2 defeat, scoring Georgia's second goal. He obtained the last of his ten international caps on 28 April 1999, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 loss against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
.
Kiknadze started the 2006–07 season as coach of Olimpi Rustavi, entering coaching at the relatively young age of 30. This was Olimpi Rustavi's first season of existence; the club formed in 2006 following a merger between FC Tbilisi
FC Tbilisi
FC Tbilisi is a Georgian football team, which were playing in the capital, Tbilisi. The club were playing their home games at Olimpi Stadium. FC Tbilisi were renamed Olimpi Rustavi after merging with second division club FC Rustavi...
and FC Rustavi. At the start of the season Kiknadze led the club to a run of eight matches without conceding a single goal. However, midway through the season, with Olimpi leading the league, Kiknadze left the club after failing to agree terms on a new contract. Olimpi continued the good form they had enjoyed under Kiknadze, and won the league title. Kiknadze subsequently became coach at Torpedo Kutaisi
FC Torpedo Kutaisi
FC Torpedo Kutaisi is a Georgian professional football club based in Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city. ‘Torpedo Kutaisi’ was founded in 1946 and in just three years the club became the winner of the Football Championship of that time. By the end of 1964, the Football Federation of the former...
, but just stayed in the job just one month. He became the coach of Lokomotivi Tbilisi
FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi
FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi is a Georgian football club from the capital, Tbilisi. During the existence of the USSR the club was a part of the Lokomotiv Voluntary Sports Society. The club has strong connections with the Georgian Railways.-History:*1936: Founded....
on 7 April 2007.
Kiknadze's nephew Levan Kenia
Levan Kenia
Levan Kenia is a Georgian footballer who plays for Schalke 04 in the German Bundesliga and the Georgian national team.-Club career:He joined Schalke 04 from Lokomotivi Tbilisi in January 2008, signing a contract with the club that runs until June 2012 Kenia made his debut for Schalke 04 against...
is also a professional footballer, playing for German club Schalke
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
.