FC Gonio
| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Ground | Central Stadium Gonio, Batumi, Georgia |
| Chairman | Davit Dolidze |
| Coach | Levan Jokhadze |
| League | Liga 3 |
| 2023 | 1st of 14 in Liga 4 (promoted) |
FC Gonio (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი გონიო) is a Georgian association football club based in Gonio, the southern settlement of Batumi.
They started taking part in the national league in 2021 and have since achieved two promotions within the three seasons. As winners of the 2023 season in Liga 4, Gonio have secured a place in Liga 3 for 2024.
History[edit]
The club was established in April 2021 and included in the Regionuli Liga West Group tournament for the upcoming season.[1] After two initial wins under manager Giorgi Zoidze, Gonio afterwards stayed in midtable. In early July, before the season resumed, a new head coach was appointed. During this season, the team recorded six victories with a large margin, including 8–0 in October.[2]
The next year Gonio made their debut in the David Kipiani Cup, the Georgian National Cup, where they beat two opponents, including a third-tier team.[3] Gonio were involved in the promotion chase along with two other clubs throughout the league season. They eventually came second in the table and qualified for the play-offs.[4] In a crucial game held in Batumi, Gonio cruised to victory over Gldani and secured promotion to the fourth division.[5]
Before the start of their new league campaign, Gonio signed several players with even a top-tier experience and unveiled their ambitious plan to advance further into the third division. An initial five-game winning run in Liga 4 indicated that they were serious title contenders. On 28 June 2023, Gonio recorded the biggest win in their history (14:1). Together with Betlemi Keda, in September they became a co-author of a unique occasion in Georgian football when a club gained promotion with seven matches still to play.[6] Gonio continued an unbeaten streak during the remaining period and won the champion's title.
Seasons[edit]
| Year | League | Pos | M | W | D | L | GF–GA | Pts | Domestic Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Regionuli Liga West | 5th of 9 | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 51–34 | 41 | – |
| 2022 | Regionuli Liga, Group C | 2nd of 11↑ | 20 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 87–16 | 48 | Round 3 |
| 2023 | Liga 4 | 1st of 14↑ | 26 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 75–15 | 67 | Round 3 |
Squad[edit]
As of 12 March 2024[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Club Staff[edit]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| General Director | Irakli Beridze |
| Head coach | Levan Jokhadze |
| Assistant coach | Mikheil Kakaladze |
| Goalkeeper coach | Yuri Maminashvili |
Managers[edit]
| Name | Nat. | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giorgi Zoidze | 
|
April 2021 | July 2021 |
| Irakli Gogichaishvili |
|
July 2021 | December 2022 |
| Amiran Gogitidze |
|
January 2023 | July 2023 |
| Nika Sabanadze |
|
July 2023 | December 2023 |
| Levan Jokhadze |
|
January 2024 |
Honours[edit]
Regionuli Liga
- Runners-up (1): 2022, Group C
Liga 4
- Champions (1): 2023
Stadium[edit]
The team's home ground is the Central stadium, although some matches occasionally are also held at Akhalsopeli stadium near Khelvachauri.
Name[edit]
The town of Gonio is located at a historic place famous for its Roman-era fortress.
References[edit]
- ^ "ფეხბურთს გონიოშიც თამაშობენ". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 3 May 2021.
- ^ "Regionuli liga, 2021". gff.ge.
- ^ "გონიომ" ყიფიანის თასის მეორე ეტაპზე ხობის "კოლხეთი" დაამარცხა". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Regionuli liga C, 2022". gff.ge (in Georgian).
- ^ "საფეხბურთო კლუბმა გონიომ საქართველოს მეოთხე ლიგის საგზური მოიპოვა". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 28 November 2023.
- ^ "უპრეცედენტო ფაქტი - "ბეთლემმა" და "გონიომ" ლიგა 3-ის საგზური სეზონის დასრულებამდე ორი თვით ადრე მოიპოვეს". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Gonio players". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 1 March 2023.