Georgi Kiknadze

Football player infobox2
playername = Georgi Kiknadze


fullname = Georgi Kiknadze
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1976|4|26|df=y
cityofbirth = Tbilisi
countryofbirth = Georgian SSR, then Soviet Union
currentclub =
position = Midfielder
years = 1993–1998 1998–1999 1999–2000 2000–2003 2003–2004 2005–2006
clubs = Dinamo Tbilisi Torpedo Kutaisi Samsunspor Freiburg Spartaki Tblisi Lokomotivi Tbilisi
caps(goals) = 4 (0) 0 (0)
nationalyears = 1996–1999
nationalteam = Georgia
nationalcaps(goals) = 10 (1)
manageryears = 2006–2007
2007
2007–
managerclubs = Olimpi Rustavi
Torpedo Kutaisi
Lokomotivi Tbilisi

Georgi Kiknadze (born 26 April, 1976) 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, [cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/players/georchampions.html |title=Georgia - Championship Winning Teams |accessdate=2008-05-18 |publisher=RSSSF ] and the Georgian Cup four years running from 1994 to 1997. He was also a runner-up in the Georgian Cup in 1998. [cite web |url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesg/georcuphistfin.html |title=Georgia - Cup Final Details |accessdate=2008-05-18 |publisher=RSSSF ]

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. [cite web |url=http://www.gff.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=123 |title=The National Team of Georgia in 1996 |accessdate=2008-05-25 |publisher=Georgian Football Federation ] In 1997 he was sent off while playing for Georgia against Moldova, as a result of an incident involving Moldovan captain Alexander Curteanu, who was also sent off. [cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_/ai_n14131362 |title=Spain secure place in World Cup finals |accessdate=2008-05-18 |publisher=Independent ] 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 joined Turkish club Samsunspor in October 1999, [cite web |url=http://www.tff.org.tr/Default.aspx?pageId=30&kisiId=29631 |title=Giorgi Kiknadze |accessdate=2008-05-25 |publisher=Turkish Football Federation ] but stayed only one season, making just four apparances 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.

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. [cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=548625.html |title=Rustavi heroes gear up for Europe |accessdate=2008-05-18 |publisher=UEFA ] Kiknadze subsequently became coach at Torpedo Kutaisi, [cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=112016.html |title=Georgia comes in from the cold |accessdate=2008-05-18 |publisher=FIFA] but just stayed in the job just one month. [cite book |last=Hammond |first=Mike (ed.) |title=The European Football Yearbook 2007/08 |publisher=M Press Media|location=London |date=2007 |id=ISBN 978-0-9555917-2-3 p507] He became the coach of Lokomotivi Tbilisi on 7 April, 2007. [The European Football Yearbook 2007/08, p504]

Kiknadze's nephew Levan Kenia is also a professional footballer, playing for German club Schalke. [cite web |url=http://www.playerhistory.com/Default.aspx?page=player_details&playerID=21517 |title=Georgi Kiknadze |accessdate=2008-05-18 |publisher=Playerhistory ]

References

Persondata
NAME = Kiknadze, Georgi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Kiknadze, Giorgi
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 26 April, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH = Tbilisi
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =