FC Odishi 1919

20 May 1919 two students of Zugdidi gymnasium Leo Chedia and Pier Kobakhidze organized a first football match in the city with Mertskhali (Swallows) represented as a local team. This date is considered a birthday for football in Zugdidi.[1]

The main football club of the city has had various names, especially after 1990, and as Dinamo Zugdidi, Odishi, Zugdidi, Baia and Mglebi has taken part in Umaglesi Liga in different seasons.

FC Lazika Zugdidi, the predecessor of Odishi 1919, in early 2010s competed in lower divisions. In the 2013/14 they won Meore Liga and booked a place in Pirveli Liga.[2]

The debutants of the second division performed remarkably well in the battle for a promotion spot. The club slipped up at the very end, losing three games in a row in last five matches, which allowed Locomotive Tbilisi to claim a second place paving the way for play-offs. Still, the third place in 2014/15 in Liga 2 is the best result shown by Lazika.[3]

Failing to achieve the goal of another promotion attempt, Lazika in mid-season of 2015-16 axed the manager and some key players. Ukrainian manager Sergey Zhitski as well as forward Levan Kutalia were invited, although the overall tide remained unchanged. In the same season Lazika was introduced as Odishi 1919. As the manager explained, while taking this decision a special emphasis was given to the history of football in Zugdidi.[4]

Soon a sharp decline followed which resulted in two relegations within two seasons. In 2018 the club competed in Regionuli Liga, finished 3rd and won the promotion at the expense of another team which withdrew from the competition.[5]

Since then Odishi 1919 have been competing in Liga 4, formed in 2019.

The club currently hosts home games at Central stadium located in Ganmukhuri, which is shared with FC Dinamo Zugdidi. The ground's capacity is 2,000.

Head coach Besik Sherozia, who previously worked in Umaglesi Liga clubs Kolkheti-1913, Shukura and Zugdidi, has been in charge of Odishi 1919 since early 2020.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  GEO Giorgi Kilasonia 4 DF  GEO Lasha Gogonaia 37 GK  GEO Manuchar Ivardava 5 DF  GEO Giorgi Turmanidze 7 MF  GEO Shakhi Toloraia 8 MF  GEO Saba Danelia 10 MF  GEO Dimitri Tutberidze 9 FW  GEO Bakur Gabedava

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF  GEO Koka Kometiani 20 FW  GEO Giorgi Sichinava 39 DW  GEO Zurab Malania 3 DW  GEO Makar Akubardia 14 MF  GEO Kakhaber Gogokhia 1 GK  GEO Tato Chkvanava 16 MF  GEO Giga Gabechava 17 MF  GEO Dimitri Berandze

As an old name for Samegrelo, the term Odishi was widely applied in medieval times.

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