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. Since 2022, Gonio have achieved three successive promotions. As winners of the 2024 season in Liga 3, Gonio secured a place in Erovnuli Liga 2 for the upcoming season.

History

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 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, in September they became the co-authors 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.

With new coach Levan Jokhadze at the helm, the team surged forward in the Liga 3 title race as well. They were ten points clear at the top with three matches in hand when a 5–0 rout of Gardabani on 14 November 2024 ensured another league title and automatic promotion the 2nd tier.[7]

Seasons

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 Third round
2023 Liga 4 1st of 14↑ 26 21 4 1 75–15 67 Third round
2024 Liga 3 1st of 16↑ 30 20 4 6 81–36 64 Third round

Squad

As of 10 March 2025[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Georgia (country) GEO Davit Motskobili
2 DF Georgia (country) GEO Mirza Fartenadze (C)
3 DF Georgia (country) GEO Irakli Komakhidze
4 DF Georgia (country) GEO Davit Mosidze
6 MF Georgia (country) GEO Oleg Mamasakhlisi
7 MF Georgia (country) GEO Kakha Kakhabrishvili
8 MF Georgia (country) GEO Gaga Gazdeliani
9 FW Georgia (country) GEO Tato Abuselidze
10 FW Georgia (country) GEO Gia Apkhazava
11 FW Georgia (country) GEO Giorgi Ivaniadze
12 FW Georgia (country) GEO Levan Ingorokva
14 FW Georgia (country) GEO Murad Vanadze
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF Georgia (country) GEO Jemal Verulidze
16 MF Armenia ARM Albert Mnatsakanian
17 FW Georgia (country) GEO Zurab Beridze
20 MF Brazil BRA Igor Dutra
21 MF Russia RUS David Khurtsidze
22 DF Georgia (country) GEO Mikheil Tsetskhladze
24 MF Georgia (country) GEO Beka Varshanidze
26 MF Georgia (country) GEO Dato Nakashidze
27 DF Belarus BLR Gleb Krivtsov
30 DF Georgia (country) GEO Givi Nagervadze
33 GK Georgia (country) GEO Roman Takidze
35 DF Georgia (country) GEO Lasha Kasradze

Club Staff

Position Name
General Director Irakli Beridze
Head coach Levan Jokhadze
Assistant coach Mikheil Kakaladze
Goalkeeper coach Yuri Maminashvili

Managers

Name Nat. From To
Giorgi Zoidze Georgia (country) April 2021 July 2021
Irakli Gogichaishvili Georgia (country) July 2021 December 2022
Amiran Gogitidze Georgia (country) January 2023 July 2023
Nika Sabanadze Georgia (country) July 2023 December 2023
Levan Jokhadze Georgia (country) January 2024

Honours

Liga 3

Liga 4

Regionuli Liga

  • Runners-up (1): 2022, Group C

Stadium

The team uses the 1,500-seater Angisa football ground situated in Batumi as their temporary home ground.

Name

The town of Gonio is located at a historic place famous for its Roman-era fortress.

References

  1. ^ "ფეხბურთს გონიოშიც თამაშობენ". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 3 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Regionuli liga, 2021". gff.ge.
  3. ^ "გონიომ" ყიფიანის თასის მეორე ეტაპზე ხობის "კოლხეთი" დაამარცხა". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 26 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Regionuli liga C, 2022". gff.ge (in Georgian).
  5. ^ "საფეხბურთო კლუბმა გონიომ საქართველოს მეოთხე ლიგის საგზური მოიპოვა". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 28 November 2023.
  6. ^ "უპრეცედენტო ფაქტი - "ბეთლემმა" და "გონიომ" ლიგა 3-ის საგზური სეზონის დასრულებამდე ორი თვით ადრე მოიპოვეს". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 28 September 2023.
  7. ^ ""გონიო" ეროვნული ლიგა 3-ის გამარჯვებულია". ajaratv.ge (in Georgian). 14 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Gonio players". erovnuliliga.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 10 March 2025.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Gonio
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