Giorgi Gakhokidze

Georgian footballer

Giorgi Gakhokidze
Personal information
Date of birth (1975-11-05) 5 November 1975 (age 48)
Place of birth Tbilisi, Soviet Union
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1995 Metalurgi Rustavi 33 (0)
1995–1996 Dinamo Tbilisi 0 (0)
1996–1997 Kolkheti 1913 Poti 10 (2)
1997–1998 Alania Vladikavkaz 43 (8)
1998–2003 PSV 42 (4)
1999–2000Maccabi Haifa (loan) 32 (1)
2003–2006 Twente 47 (3)
2004–2005 → Metalurh Donetsk (loan) 2 (0)
Total 209 (18)
International career
1996–2006 Georgia 21 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Giorgi Gakhokidze (Georgian: გიორგი გახოკიძე; born 5 November 1975) is a Georgian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or forward for PSV Eindhoven, Maccabi Haifa, FC Twente and Metalurh Donetsk among others. Between 1996 and 2006 he was also a member of the Georgia national team.

Club career

Early career

Gakhokidze was born in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR. He started his career at Metalurgi Rustavi before moving to Georgian top club FC Dinamo Tbilisi, but did not play any matches and moved to FC Kolkheti-1913 Poti and later to Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz, to play in the Russian league. Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven showed interest in the player and brought him into the Netherlands. In his first season, he was unable to gain himself a spot in the first team and was sent on a loan deal with Maccabi Haifa F.C. where he developed himself into a better player.

Breakthrough and downfall

Back at PSV Gakhokidze still struggled to play a decent number of matches, but in the 2001–02 season things changed. Gakhokidze played in 25 of PSV's 34 matches that season. However, mainly due to injuries he only got a total of eight matches in the following season. Recovered from the injuries he moved to FC Twente and had a good season with a lot of match rhythm and some goals as well.

Gakhokidze felt the need to return to the eastern part of Europe and switched to Ukraine based Metalurg Donetsk. At this team however he only came to a total of two matches, while at his following team FC Krylya Sovetov Samara he did not play at all. His former team FC Twente decided to contract him again, but injuries forced him to set back most of the time and he only came to 19 appearances from 2005 to the end of 2006. On 29 December 2006 Gakhokidze decided to terminate his contract and end his career at the age of 31.

International career

Besides his club appearances Gakhokidze also played in 21 matches for the Georgian national team, and scored 3 goals.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League
Division Apps Goals
Metalurgi Rustavi 1993–94 Umaglesi Liga 26 0
1994–95 Umaglesi Liga 7 0
Dinamo Tbilisi 1995–96 Umaglesi Liga 0 0
Kolkheti-1913 Poti 1996–97 Umaglesi Liga 10 2
Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz 1997 Russian Premier League 29 7
1998 Russian Premier League 14 1
PSV Eindhoven 1998–99 Eredivisie 4 1
2000–01 Eredivisie 5 0
2001–02 Eredivisie 25 2
2002–03 Eredivisie 8 1
Maccabi Haifa (loan) 1999–2000 Israeli Premier League 32 1
FC Twente 2003–04 Eredivisie 28 3
2004–05 Eredivisie 2 0
2005–06 Eredivisie 15 0
2006–07 Eredivisie 2 0
Metalurh Donetsk (loan) 2004–05 Vyscha Liha 2 0
Total 209 18

External links

  • Career, goals, games, photos