Torpedo Kutaisi 2023 football season
The 2023 season was Torpedo 's 77th year in existence and 14th consecutive season in the top flight of Georgian football . In addition to the national league and David Kipiani Cup , the club participated in this season's edition of the Georgian Super Cup and UEFA Europa Conference League as the cup holder of the previous year .[ 1]
The season covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2023. This was the second full season under the New Vision University management after they purchased the club in September 2021.
Аs Georgia co-hosted UEFA European U21 Championship this summer, Kutaisi's central stadium underwent a thorough reconstruction.[ 2]
The team had a promising start to the season. With a single defeat in the initial nine games, they were 3rd, five points behind the table leaders. But having picked up six points in the next second nine-match period, they dropped to 6th. By the summer break, Torpedo had experienced a significant squad and staff overhaul, which included their head coach as well.[ 3]
The club drastically improved in the second half of the season. They gained as many points in their last nine games (21) as in the first eighteen matches. Ultimately, Torpedo leapfrogged their three opponents and finished among the top three for the first time in five years.[ 4]
Events
On 13 January, Levan Mchedlidze , Dino Hamzić and Mate Tsintsadze left Torpedo while Oto Goshadze and Davit Samurkasovi joined the club.[ 5]
On 20 January, Torpedo signed Kayke David .[ 6]
On 11 February, the club announced the transfer of Nika Kacharava .[ 7]
On 24 February, Torpedo welcomed Aldair Neto and Sunday Faleye .[ 8]
On 31 March, Levan Osikmashvili was signed on loan from Dinamo Tbilisi until the end of the season.[ 9]
On 8 May, head coach Kakha Chkhetiani left Torpedo by mutual agreement[ 10]
On 16 May, Roin Kvaskhvadze , Giorgi Kimadze and Levan Gegetchkori left the team.[ 11]
On 17 May, the club announced that Steve Kean was appointed as a new head coach.[ 12]
On 27 May, Nika Kacharava parted ways with Torpedo.[ 13]
On 16 June, Davit Samurkasovi and Giorgi Kukhianidze left the club.[ 14]
On 23 June, Akaki Shulaia left Torpedo by mutual agreement.[ 15]
On 28 June, assistant manager Nilton Terroso as well as players Rahmat Akbari , Francois Ekongolo and Filip Kljajić joined Torpedo.[ 16]
On 8 July, Tornike Akhvlediani moved to Samtredia on loan.[ 17]
On 12 July, Anri Chichinadze, Giorgi Pantsulaia and Nikola Ninković signed with Torpedo on 1.5 year-long deals each. They were joined by Omran Haydary .[ 18]
On 24 July, Avtandil Labadze, Juba Dvalishvili and Sunday Faleye left for Samtredia .[ 19]
On 2 December, after a 2–2 draw at Dinamo Batumi , Torpedo finished the season 3rd and secured both the bronze medals and a UEFA Europa Conference League spot for next year.[ 20]
On 30 December, Torpedo announced that the contract with head coach Steve Kean was extended to the end of 2025 while players Mauro Caballero , Giorgi Kobuladze, Anri Chichinadze, Giorgi Pantsulaia and Aldair Neto left the club.[ 21]
Squad
All data regarding players and squad numbers are valid as of 2 December 2023, the last match of the 2023 season. Appearances include the Erovnuli Liga only.[ 22]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No.
Player
Nat.
Positions
Date of birth (age)
Signed in
Apps.
Goals
Goalkeepers
1
Oto Goshadze
GK
(1997-10-13 ) 13 October 1997 (age 27)
2023
14
0
31
Filip Kljajić
GK
(1990-08-16 ) 16 August 1990 (age 34)
2023
15
0
30
Roin Kvaskhvadze
GK
(1989-05-31 ) 31 May 1989 (age 35)
2021
38
0
31
Avtandil Labadze
GK
(1998-05-09 ) 9 May 1998 (age 26)
2022
3
0
37
Avtandil Meparishvili
GK
(2006-01-08 ) 8 January 2006 (age 18)
2023
0
0
Defenders
25
Jemal Chachua
DF
(2004-12-11 ) 11 December 2004 (age 20)
2023
1
0
4
Anri Chichinadze
DF
(1997-10-05 ) 5 October 1997 (age 27)
2023
7
1
18
Levan Gegetchkori
DF
(1994-06-05 ) 5 June 1994 (age 30)
2022
23
0
2
Saba Goglichidze
DF
(2004-06-25 ) 25 June 2004 (age 20)
2021
30
0
8
Giorgi Kimadze
DF
(1992-02-11 ) 11 February 1992 (age 32)
2022
33
0
15
Giorgi Kobuladze
DF
(1997-02-26 ) 26 February 1997 (age 27)
2023
22
1
22
Giorgi Mchedlishvili
DF
(1992-01-18 ) 18 January 1992 (age 32)
2022
37
0
3
Pedro Monteiro
DF
(1994-01-30 ) 30 January 1994 (age 30)
2022
46
1
5
Tsotne Nadaraia
DF
(1997-02-21 ) 21 February 1997 (age 27)
2019
100
2
16
Nika Sandokhadze
DF
(1994-02-20 ) 20 February 1994 (age 30)
2022
57
2
27
Lasha Shergelashvili
DF
(1992-01-17 ) 17 January 1992 (age 32)
2022
47
7
24
Amiran Tkeshelashvili
DF
(2006-07-11 ) 11 July 2006 (age 18)
2023
1
0
Midfielders
6
Rahmat Akbari
MF
(2000-06-20 ) 20 June 2000 (age 24)
2023
11
0
26
Aleko Basiladze
MF
(2005-12-30 ) 30 December 2005 (age 18)
2023
1
0
20
Irakli Bugridze
MF
(1998-01-03 ) 3 January 1998 (age 26)
2022
59
12
38
Kayke David
MF
(2003-01-22 ) 22 January 2003 (age 21)
2023
19
1
7
Merab Gigauri
MF
(1993-06-05 ) 5 June 1993 (age 31)
2022
39
1
10
Giorgi Kukhianidze
MF
(1992-07-01 ) 1 July 1992 (age 32)
2022
37
11
13
Giuli Manjgaladze
MF
(1992-09-09 ) 9 September 1992 (age 32)
2022
56
3
21
Aldair Neto
MF
(1994-07-22 ) 22 July 1994 (age 30)
2023
27
0
6
Levan Osikmashvili
MF
(2002-04-20 ) 20 April 2002 (age 22)
2023
6
0
17
Davit Samurkasovi
MF
(1998-02-05 ) 5 February 1998 (age 26)
2023
16
0
11
Akaki Shulaia
MF
(1996-09-06 ) 6 September 1996 (age 28)
2022
46
2
Forwards
9
Tornike Akhvlediani
FW
(1999-07-24 ) 24 July 1999 (age 25)
2021
46
12
8
Giorgi Arabidze
FW
(1998-03-04 ) 4 March 1998 (age 26)
2022
59
19
39
Mauro Caballero
FW
(1994-10-08 ) 8 October 1994 (age 30)
2022
30
3
9
Francois Ekongolo
FW
(2004-08-12 ) 12 August 2004 (age 20)
2023
8
2
40
Sunday Faleye
FW
(1998-11-29 ) 29 November 1998 (age 26)
2023
15
0
11
Omran Haydary
FW
(1998-01-13 ) 13 January 1998 (age 26)
2023
8
0
35
Davit Imedadze
FW
(2004-08-10 ) 10 August 2004 (age 20)
2023
1
2
14
Nika Kacharava
FW
(1994-01-13 ) 13 January 1994 (age 30)
2023
14
3
10
Nikola Ninković
FW
(1994-12-19 ) 19 December 1994 (age 30)
2023
13
5
14
Giorgi Pantsulaia
FW
(1994-01-06 ) 6 January 1994 (age 30)
2023
13
3
Pre-season friendlies
Win Draw Loss
Competitions
Overview
Competition
First match
Last match
Starting round
Final position
Record
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Win %
Erovnuli Liga
26 February 2023
2 December 2023
Matchday 1
3rd
36
16
12
8
55
37
+18
0 44.44
Georgian Cup
7 September 2023
25 October 2023
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
2
1
0
1
3
2
+1
0 50.00
Super Cup
30 June 2023
4 July 2023
Semifinals
3rd
2
0
2
0
0
0
+0
00 0.00
UEFA Europa Conference League
13 July 2023
3 August 2023
1st qualifying round
2nd qualifying round
4
1
2
1
6
8
−2
0 25.00
Total
44
18
16
10
64
47
+17
0 40.91
Erovnuli Liga
Results summary
Overall
Home
Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
36
16
12
8
55
37
+18
60
9
4
5
35
20
+15
7
8
3
20
17
+3
Results by round
Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Ground A H A H A H A A H H A H A H A H H A H A A H A H A A H H A H A H A H H A Result D D W W D W L W D L L W D L L L L D W W W W D W D D L W W W W D W D W D
Source:
See Results A = Away;
H = Home;
W = Win;
D = Draw;
L = Loss
Results
League table
Source:
Erovnuli Liga ,
Soccerway Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.
(C) Champions
Super Cup
Georgian Cup
UEFA Europa Conference League
1st qualifying round
2nd qualifying round
Statistics
Goalscorers
Clean sheets
Red cards
Awards
At the end of this season, the Erovnuli Liga named Giorgi Arabidze as midfielder of the year and included him and Lasha Shergelashvili in Team of the Year at its annual ceremony .[ 23]
Several members of Torpedo were also recognized during the season.[ 24] [ 25] [ 26] [ 27]
References
Domestic leagues Domestic cups European competitions
Champions League
Europa Conference League
Related to national team
