FC Gagra

FC Gagra (Georgian: გაგრა) is a Georgian football club, which currently plays in Erovnuli Liga 2, the second tier of Georgian league system.

The club has its origins in Gagra, Abkhazia. It was founded in Tbilisi by former player and coach Goderdzi Chikhradze and his cousin in 2004 with a plan to move the club to Gagra in the end, but due to the enduring Abkhaz–Georgian conflict the team plays its home games in Tbilisi.

FC Gagra is the only non-top flight Georgian team, which has twice won the national Cup.

History

Early history

The new club was formed as FC Gagra in 2004 in Regionuli Liga, where they won promotion to Pirveli Liga. After winning their second-tier division, Gagra lost the promotion play-off in 2005–06 and 2006–07. In 2007–08, they again lost the promotion play-off, but after some withdrawals in the Umaglesi Liga the team was finally promoted. In the 2008–09 season, the team played in the top league, but were to be relegated in the end. Gagra avoided relegation only after higher placed teams withdrew from the league. Gagra won the first League of 2010–2011 season, and became the winner of the Georgian Cup by defeating three-time winners FC Torpedo Kutaisi 1–0 after extra time.

Recent years

In every season since the relegation to Liga 2 in 2012, Gagra have been considered tough rivals aiming at the first division with 5th place being the worst final position. Overall, the club took part in Erovnuli Liga playoffs five times during the last 14 years, although failed to overcome opponents from the top division. The latest attempt of promotion in December 2020 against Torpedo Kutaisi ended 1-3 on aggregate.

Gagra's performance in David Kipiani Cup proved more successful. As a second league team, the team reached the final in 2018 for the second time only to lose on penalty shootout. Two years later, though, they knocked out five clubs, including some of those regarded as contenders for the title, and victoriously co

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