FC Zugdidi

FC Dinamo Zugdidi is a defunct Georgian football club based in Zugdidi. In 2023, after being accused of match-fixing and expelled from the Erovnuli Liga 2 the previous season, the club took part in Liga 4 and stopped functioning following their relegation to Regionuli Liga.

History

The club was founded in 1918 as Odishi Zugdidi.

In 1990, FC Odishi Zugdidi were promoted for the first time to the Umaglesi Liga, the top division of Georgian football. In the 1998–99 season they finished 15th and were relegated to the Pirveli Liga. Ahead of the 2001–02 season the club changed its name to FC Lazika Zugdidi and the following season the club won promotion back to the Umaglesi Liga.

Ahead of the 2003–04 season, FC Lazika Zugdidi merged with FC Spartaki Tbilisi, a Pirveli Liga club. During the winter break, FC Spartak-Lazika Zugdidi relocated to Tbilisi and renamed themselves to FC Spartaki Tbilisi. The fusion was later undone and the now independent club changed its name to FC Zugdidi.

In July 2006, FC Zugdidi and FC Mglebi Zugdidi, a Regionuli Liga club, merged. The club continued to perform in the Pirveli League but was renamed FC Mglebi Zugdidi. In the season 2006–07, they won the league and returned to the Umaglesi Liga.

They renamed themselves to FC Baia Zugdidi in 2009. Later, ahead of the 2012–13 season, FC Baia Zugdidi changed their name to FC Zugdidi. In 2016, when the last season of Umaglesi Liga was held before its rebranding as Erovnuli Liga, the club lost a relegation battle. A year later, Zugdidi dropped out of the 2nd division as well.

In January 2018, the Zugdidi City Council approved a deal between the city municipality and football manager Zaza Janashia, who purchased 100% share of the club at auction. Zugdidi managed to secure automatic promotion from Liga 3 after winning the league with a five-point margin. In December 2019, the club announced in a written statement that they would be renamed again as FC Dinamo Zugdidi.

In the 2022 season, they, alongside Shevardeni-1906, were accused of match fixing and expelled to Liga 4, the fourth division of Georgian football.

The team finished bottom of the table in 2023 before suspending their football activities.

Name History

*1918–??: ''Odishi Zugdidi'' ( ka, ოდიში ზუგდიდი)
* 1964–65: ''Engurhesi Zugdidi''
* 1965–73: ''Inguri Zugdidi''
* 1974–90: ''Dinamo Zugdidi''
* 1990–94: ''Odishi Zugdidi''
* 1994–95: ''Dinamo Zugdidi''
* 1995–96: ''Dinamo-Odishi Zugdidi''
* 1996–99: ''Odishi Zugdidi''
* 2000–01: ''Dinamo Zugdidi''
* 2001–03: ''Lazika Zugdidi''
* 2003: ''Spartak-Lazika Zugdidi''
* 2004: ''Dinamo Zugdidi''
* 2004–06: ''FC Zugdidi''
* 2006–09: ''Mglebi Zugdidi''
* 2009–12: ''Baia Zugdidi''
* 2012–20: ''FC Zugdidi''
* 2020–: ''Dinamo Zugdidi''

Seasons

As Odishi / Dinamo

:

As Baia / Mglebi / FC Zugdidi

:

As Baia Zugdidi (reserves)

:

Honours

* Georgian Soviet Championship
::Champion: 1964, 1973
* Georgian Soviet Cup
::Champion: 1973, 1984
*Pirveli Liga
::Champion: 2003, 2007
::Silver Medal winner: 2009

Current squad

''As of August 2019''

Managers

* Herbert Zanker (Jul 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009)
* Elguja Kometiani (Dec 17, 2009 – Dec 27, 2011)
* Gocha Tkebuchava (Jan 6, 2012 – May 15, 2012)
* Elguja Kometiani (May 15, 2012 – June 30, 2013)
* Klimenti Tsitaishvili (Aug 1, 2013 – Nov 10, 2013)
* Sergo Gabelaia (Nov 14–19, 2013)
* Giorgi Daraselia (Nov 19, 2014 – June 1, 2014)
* Nestor Mumladze (Aug 1, 2014 – Oct 20, 2014)
* Besik Sherozia (Oct 21, 2014 – Nov 14, 2015)
* Yuriy Bakalov (Jan 11, 2016 – Aug 2016)
* Otar Gabelia (Aug 2016 – Aug 2016)
* Volodymyr Lyutyi (since Aug 2016)

Women's team

The women's team participated in the 2010–11 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round, where it lost all three matches.

References

External links

* . .

FC Dinamo Zugdidi results
on Flashscore

Soccerway profile

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zugdidi, FC

Defunct football clubs in Georgia (country)
Association football clubs established in 1918
FC Zugdidi