FC Rustavi

FC Rustavi (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი რუსთავი) is a Georgian football club based in the city of Rustavi. Following the 2025 season, they were promoted to the top tier of Georgian football.

Source: Wikipedia

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FC Rustavi

Founded in 2015, it is one of the youngest participants of the Georgian football leagues.

The team has spent two seasons in the top division.

History

FC Rustavi

FC Rustavi have no legal connections with any of the football clubs previously existing in the city (Gorda, Metalurgi, Olimpi). As a new team, it was established on 3 July 2015.

Rustavi debuted in the second division the same year and achieved a modest goal of retaining a place in it by finishing in midtable.

Contrary to expectations, in 2016 they emerged among the favourites, managed to prevail in the promotion contest and under manager Varlam Kilasonia won the league. However, due to the season being transitional to the spring-autumn system, no team was promoted.

Despite a poor start in 2017, the club drastically improved and after a ten-match winning run claimed the first place with automatic promotion to the first tier.

Rustavi signed some experienced players such as Nukri Revishvili, Mamuka Kobakhidze and Otar Martsvaladze and in the very first game in the Erovnuli Liga obtained three points at Dinamo Tbilisi. But frequent changes of the squad throughout the season did not contribute to stable results and finally the team finished in the 7th place.

The club was struggling for most of the regular season in 2019. Eventually, Rustavi could have remained in the league in case of a play-off victory over Telavi, but they were defeated in both games.

Back in Liga 2, the next season Rustavi joined the promotion battle and remained in a play-off range until the last game. However, the results of the final matchday turned out unfavourable. Yet, in this season Rustavi recorded their biggest win 10–0.

Starting from 2021, the club took part in two relegation battles. Initially, Rustavi prevailed over Kolkheti 1913 due to away goals, but in the next season they lost both matches to Kolkheti Khobi, which resulted in their relegation to the third division.

During the 2023 season, Rustavi were battling for an automatic promotion spot. Although the team suffered a 7–4 aggregate defeat from Locomotive in play-offs, ultimately they were admitted back to the 2nd division after Shukura's disqualification by the Federation.

In 2024, Rustavi finished 3rd, implying taking part in promotion playoffs, but they lost to Telavi again. A year later, though, the team managed to win the Liga 2 season despite trailing by ten points in mid-season and return to the top tier after a six-year absence.

Rustavi have three times reached the quarterfinal stage of the Georgian Cup competition. As a lower league side, they came close to reaching the semifinals during the game against Dinamo Tbilisi in 2017. After a goalless draw in regular and extra times, the winner of the quarterfinal was determined on penalties. The same scenario unfolded two years later when Rustavi's Cup campaign was stopped by Torpedo Kutaisi.

Seasons

FC Rustavi

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>League</th><th>Pos</th><th>P</th><th>W</th><th>D</th><th>L</th><th>GF</th><th>GA</th><th>Pts</th><th>Domestic Cup</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2015/16</td><td>2nd</td><td>9/18</td><td>34</td><td>10</td><td>13</td><td>11</td><td>33</td><td>33</td><td>43</td><td>1st round</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>1/9</td><td>16</td><td>12</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>40</td><td>15</td><td>32</td><td>Preliminary round</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>1/10↑</td><td>36</td><td>26</td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>72</td><td>25</td><td>83</td><td>1⁄4 finals</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>1st</td><td>7/10</td><td>36</td><td>8</td><td>13</td><td>15</td><td>33</td><td>44</td><td>37</td><td>1⁄8 finals</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>8/10↓</td><td>36</td><td>9</td><td>11</td><td>16</td><td>40</td><td>56</td><td>38</td><td>1⁄4 finals</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>2nd</td><td>4/10</td><td>18</td><td>7</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td>35</td><td>27</td><td>26</td><td>1⁄16 finals</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>9/10</td><td>36</td><td>11</td><td>6</td><td>19</td><td>46</td><td>58</td><td>39</td><td>1⁄16 finals</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>7/10↓</td><td>28</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>17</td><td>34</td><td>54</td><td>23</td><td>1⁄8 finals</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>3rd</td><td>3/16↑</td><td>30</td><td>19</td><td>4</td><td>7</td><td>63</td><td>31</td><td>61</td><td>1st round</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>2nd</td><td>2/10</td><td>36</td><td>20</td><td>5</td><td>11</td><td>62</td><td>41</td><td>65</td><td>1⁄8 finals</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>1/10↑</td><td>36</td><td>21</td><td>8</td><td>7</td><td>62</td><td>30</td><td>71</td><td>1⁄4 finals</td></tr></tbody></table>

Top goalscorers

FC Rustavi

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Div.</th><th>Name</th><th>Goals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2015–16</td><td>2nd</td><td>Zviad Metreveli, Zaza Tsitskishvili</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>2nd</td><td>Data Sitchinava</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>2nd</td><td>Data Sitchinava</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>1st</td><td>Beka Kavtaradze, Zaza Tsitskishvili, Otar Martsvaladze</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>2019</td><td>1st</td><td>Beka Kavtaradze</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>2nd</td><td>Toma Tabatadze</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>2nd</td><td>Paata Kiteishvili</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>2nd</td><td>Bantu Mzwakali</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>3rd</td><td>Bachuki Gotsadze</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>2nd</td><td>Giorgi Gabedava</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>2nd</td><td>Jean</td><td>13</td></tr></tbody></table>

Penalty shoot-outs

FC Rustavi

<table><thead><tr><th>Date</th><th>Competition</th><th>Round</th><th>Opponent</th><th>Venue</th><th>Result</th><th>Score</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>13 September 2017</td><td>Georgian Cup</td><td>Quarterfinals</td><td>Dinamo Tbilisi</td><td>Home</td><td>Lost</td><td>0–3</td></tr><tr><td>25 September 2019</td><td>Georgian Cup</td><td>Quarterfinals</td><td>Torpedo Kutaisi</td><td>Home</td><td>Lost</td><td>2–4</td></tr><tr><td>7 August 2025</td><td>Georgian Cup</td><td>Round of 16</td><td>Iberia 1999 B</td><td>Away</td><td>Won</td><td>4–3</td></tr></tbody></table>

Squad

FC Rustavi

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

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Nation</th><th>Player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>GK</td><td> GEO</td><td>Soso Kardava</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>DF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Shotiko Andguladze</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>DF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Vazha Patsatsia</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>DF</td><td> BRA</td><td>David Oliveira</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>MF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Nika Chumburidze</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>MF</td><td> GNB</td><td>Manuel Pami</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>FW</td><td> UKR</td><td>Nikita Slavytskyi</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>MF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Kakhaber Kakashvili</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>FW</td><td> BRA</td><td>Jean Souza</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>FW</td><td> GHA</td><td>Prince Osei</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>FW</td><td> GHA</td><td>Solomon Kessi</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>MF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Avtandil Gujabidze</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>FW</td><td> GEO</td><td>Nikoloz Kutateladze</td></tr><tr><td>No.</td><td>Pos.</td><td>Nation</td><td>Player</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>MF</td><td> GHA</td><td>Billy Jibril</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>MF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Nika Japaridze</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>DF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Nikoloz Chikovani</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>DF</td><td> UKR</td><td>Dmytro Dobranskyi</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>GK</td><td> GEO</td><td>Papuna Beruashvili</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>MF</td><td> JPN</td><td>Yuta Nakano</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>MF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Aleksandre Kutateladze</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>DF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Irakli Iakobidze</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>MF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Avtandil Mashava</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>DF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Mamuka Kapanadze</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>FW</td><td> GEO</td><td>Giorgi Chkheidze</td></tr><tr><td>35</td><td>GK</td><td> RUS</td><td>Roland Jobava</td></tr><tr><td>40</td><td>DF</td><td> GEO</td><td>Davit Ubilava</td></tr></tbody></table>

Managers

FC Rustavi

<table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Nat.</th><th>From</th><th>To</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Giorgi Mishvelidze</td><td></td><td>September 2015</td><td>April 2016</td></tr><tr><td>Varlam Kilasonia</td><td></td><td>April 2016</td><td>December 2017</td></tr><tr><td>Vladimir Gazzayev</td><td></td><td>January 2018</td><td>June 2018</td></tr><tr><td>Varlam Kilasonia (2)</td><td></td><td>June 2018</td><td>September 2018</td></tr><tr><td>Ucha Sosiashvili</td><td></td><td>September 2018</td><td>December 2018</td></tr><tr><td>Badri Kvaratskhelia</td><td></td><td>February 2019</td><td>April 2019</td></tr><tr><td>Varlam Kilasonia (3)</td><td></td><td>May 2019</td><td>July 2020</td></tr><tr><td>Suliko Davitashvili</td><td></td><td>July 2020</td><td>August 2020</td></tr><tr><td>Temur Makharadze</td><td></td><td>August 2020</td><td>February 2021</td></tr><tr><td>Vladimer Khachidze</td><td></td><td>February 2021</td><td>July 2021</td></tr><tr><td>Armaz Jeladze</td><td></td><td>August 2021</td><td>April 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Levan Jokhadze</td><td></td><td>May 2022</td><td>November 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Valeri Abramidze</td><td></td><td>November 2022</td><td>December 2022</td></tr><tr><td>Varlam Kilasonia (4)</td><td></td><td>February 2023</td><td>April 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Giorgi Tsetsadze</td><td></td><td>April 2025</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Club staff

FC Rustavi

<table><thead><tr><th>Position</th><th>Name</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>General Director</td><td>Bachana Tskhadadze</td></tr><tr><td>Head coach</td><td>Giorgi Tsetsadze</td></tr><tr><td>Assistant coach</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Goalkeeper coach</td><td>Andro Koroshinadze</td></tr></tbody></table>

Honours

FC Rustavi

• Pirveli Liga/Erovnuli Liga 2 • Champions (3): (/wiki/2016PirveliLiga) (Group White), (/wiki/2017ErovnuliLiga2), (/wiki/2025ErovnuliLiga2) • Runners-up (1): (/wiki/2024ErovnuliLiga2) • Liga 3 • Third (1): (/wiki/2023Liga3(Georgia))

Notable players

FC Rustavi

• Giorgi Mamardashvili • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Other teams

FC Rustavi

Rustavi also have a reserve team, which participates in Group A of Regionuli Liga. Their home ground is the Poladi stadium.