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Georgian U-19 Liga

Georgian U-19 Liga
Organising bodyGeorgian Football Federation
Founded2016; 9 years ago (2016)
Country Georgia
ConfederationUEFA Youth League
Number of clubs10
Level on pyramid1 (of under-19 age group)
Current championsDinamo Tbilisi
(2024)
Most championshipsDinamo Tbilisi (5 titles)
Websitegff.ge

The U19 Golden League (Georgian: 19 წლამდელთა ოქროს ლიგა) is the main youth football competition run by the Georgian Football Federation for under-19 teams, whose parent clubs usually compete in the Erovnuli Liga or lower leagues.

Created in mid-2016, it is named after distinguished player Givi Chokheli[1] and consists of as many teams as men's and women's leagues (10).

Structure and format

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A playing season of the league consists of two parts. During the first phase, teams play double round robin. The top five teams qualify for Championship group which determines the winner via an eight-game tournament. The remaining clubs take part in Relegation round with the bottom team to be relegated to the Silver League. The latter is the 2nd and last division of the youth league, contested by eleven teams in 2025.[2]

Seasons run based on Spring-Autumn system.

History

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The eight-team league competition started on 22 August 2016, replacing the tournament held among the reserve teams. Based on geographic principle, it was initially divided into eastern and western groups with top two teams advancing to semifinals.[3] Saburtalo became the first champions after a narrow victory over Dinamo Tbilisi.[4]

In 2018, the league featured nine teams. Locomotive under head coach Suliko Davitashvili produced an unbeaten run, winning 25 out of 28 games and claimed the champions' title.[5]

The 2020 league season was abandoned after three rounds following a COVID-19 outbreak. The latter affected the next season as well with the competition completed in June 2022.[6] Dinamo have dominated during the recent period, securing three out of possible four titles.

Current teams

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There are currently ten teams competing in U19 Golden League.

Seasons

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Season Champion Runner-up
2016 Saburtalo Dinamo Tbilisi
2017 Dinamo Tbilisi Locomotive
2018 Locomotive Dinamo Tbilisi
2019 Dinamo Tbilisi Locomotive
2020 Abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Dinamo Tbilisi Locomotive
2022 Saburtalo Dinamo Tbilisi
2023 Dinamo Tbilisi Saburtalo
2024 Dinamo Tbilisi Iberia 1999

Note: Saburtalo changed its name to Iberia 1999 in February 2024[7]

Player of the Year

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Based on his individual performance in the Golden League, one U19 notable player is selected by the Football Federation each year.

Year Player Club
2017 Luka Lakvekheliani Saburtalo
2018 Zuriko Davitashvili Locomotive
2019 Giorgi Guliashvili Saburtalo
2020 Not awarded
2021 Saba Khvadagiani Dinamo Tbilisi
2022 Luka Latsabidze Dinamo Tbilisi
2023 Aleksandre Narimanidze Saburtalo
2024 Saba Samushia Dinamo Tbilisi

References

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  1. ^ "საბურთალო 19-წლამდელთა ლიგის გამარჯვებული" [Saburtalo wins U19 league]. gff.ge (in Georgian). 12 December 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  2. ^ "2025 U19 Silver League" (in Georgian). Georgian Football Federation. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  3. ^ "19 წლამდელებმა პირველობა გამარჯვებით დაიწყეს" [U19s start their tournament with win]. fcdinamo.ge (in Georgian). 22 August 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  4. ^ "საბურთალო 19 წლამდელთა ლიგის გამარჯვებულია" [Saburtalo are the winners of U19 league]. gff.ge (in Georgian). 9 December 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  5. ^ "ლოკომოტივი 19 წლამდე ოქროს ლიგის ჩემპიონია" [Locomotive claim U19 Golden Liga title]. fcloco.ge (in Georgian). 1 December 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  6. ^ "კორონავირუსის გამო გაწელილი სეზონი დასრულდა" [The season prolonged by COVID is over]. 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 22 June 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  7. ^ ""საბურთალოს" სახელი შეეცვალა და ოთხი ლეგიონერიც წარადგინეს" [Saburtalo changes name and introduces four foreign players]. worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 27 February 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
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