Murtaz Shelia
Encyclopedia
Murtaz Shelia is a former football defender who was capped 29 times for Georgia
between 1994 and 1998.
His clubs included Dinamo Tbilisi
, 1. FC Saarbrücken
, Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz, Manchester City
and Lokomotivi Tbilisi. With Dinamo Tbilisi, Shelia formed part of a Georgian league championship
winning team for five years in a row, from 1991 to 1995. In 1995 he joined Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz of the Russian league, where, as one of five Georgians on the books of the North Ossetians, he helped the club win the Russian league title in his first season.
Two years later Shelia joined English club Manchester City
, where his former Dinamo Tbilisi team-mate Georgi Kinkladze was the star player. He marked his debut with a goal at Birmingham City
, though Manchester City lost the match 2–1. Six weeks later he was joined in defence by another Georgian, Kakhaber Tskhadadze
, but as the season reached its conclusion injuries restricted Shelia's appearances. At the end of the season Manchester City were relegated, entering the third tier for the first time in their history. The following season Shelia made just three appearances before sustaining a career-threatening injury against Reading
in October 1998, his final appearance for the club. In 2000 he was released from his contract. After attempting a brief comeback with Lokomotivi Tbilisi, he retired in 2001.
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...
between 1994 and 1998.
His clubs included 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...
, 1. FC Saarbrücken
1. FC Saarbrücken
1. FC Saarbrücken is a German association football club based in the city of Saarbrücken, Saarland. The club began its existence as the football department of Turnverein Malstatt formed in 1903...
, Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Lokomotivi Tbilisi. With Dinamo Tbilisi, Shelia formed part of a Georgian league championship
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...
winning team for five years in a row, from 1991 to 1995. In 1995 he joined Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz of the Russian league, where, as one of five Georgians on the books of the North Ossetians, he helped the club win the Russian league title in his first season.
Two years later Shelia joined English club Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, where his former Dinamo Tbilisi team-mate Georgi Kinkladze was the star player. He marked his debut with a goal at Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, though Manchester City lost the match 2–1. Six weeks later he was joined in defence by another Georgian, Kakhaber Tskhadadze
Kakhaber Tskhadadze
Kakhaber Tskhadadze is a Georgian football coach and former player.-Career:His club career started in 1986 in Dinamo Tbilisi. He became known in Western Europe with German team Eintracht Frankfurt, who he joined in 1992. After a couple of successful seasons he gradually found himself struggling...
, but as the season reached its conclusion injuries restricted Shelia's appearances. At the end of the season Manchester City were relegated, entering the third tier for the first time in their history. The following season Shelia made just three appearances before sustaining a career-threatening injury against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in October 1998, his final appearance for the club. In 2000 he was released from his contract. After attempting a brief comeback with Lokomotivi Tbilisi, he retired in 2001.