FC Sioni Bolnisi

Summary

FC Sioni (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი სიონი) is a Georgian football club based in Bolnisi. They compete in Erovnuli Liga Liga 2, the second tier of the Georgian league system.

Sioni Bolnisi
Full nameFootball Club Sioni Bolnisi
Founded1936; 88 years ago (1936)
GroundTamaz Stepania Stadium, Bolnisi
Capacity3,000
ChairmanLevan Silagadze
ManagerGiorgi Devdariani
LeagueErovnuli Liga 2
20234th of 10 in Erovnuli Liga 2
WebsiteClub website

The team has won the league title on one occasion, in 2005/06. Sioni play their home matches at local stadium named after Tamaz Stepania.

History edit

The football club in Bolnisi was founded in 1936. For years they took part in Georgian domestic competitions under the name Madneuli. While being in the second division in early 1990s, the team emerged among the candidates challenging for the top league.

For the first time Sioni participated in Umaglesi Liga in the 1995/96 season and after initial several years made significant progress towards joining ambitious clubs vying for titles.

In 2002, they reached the Cup final, although failed to prevail over Dinamo Tbilisi.[1]

In the 2003/04 season, Sioni and FC WIT Georgia shared the first position in the league, and the title was decided in a championship play-off. WIT won the game 2–0, but the crowd violence during the match led UEFA to ban Sioni from the UEFA Cup participation.[2]

The third attempt two years later turned out successful. The club set a remarkable unbeaten home record by winning 14 games out of 15 and ended the season five points clear of a main rival.[3] Kakha Tskhadadze became Manager of the Year, while striker Koka Mikuchadze, who scored 19 goals, was named in the symbolic team of the season. Sioni represented Georgia in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07, where they defeated FK Baku from Azerbaijan in the first qualifying round,[4] but were eliminated by Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia in the second stage, losing 2–0 both home and away.[5]

 
Old Logo

As champions, in January 2007 Sioni participated in the CIS Cup in Moscow where they defeated two opponents out of three, although failed to qualify for the play-offs on goal difference.[6]

Sioni achieved another league success in 2013/14. Under Vladimir Burduli the club, strengthened by some experienced players, including former national team members Valeri Abramidze and Revaz Kemoklidze, won the bronze medals. Two years later Sioni played in the national Cup final for the second time in fifteen years.[7] Soon their performance deteriorated, which saw the team relegated to Liga 2 for the first time in the last two decades.[8]

Following a two-year tenure in the second division, Sioni secured another promotion in 2021.[9] The team topped the league from the very beginning and, although slipped up in midseason which resulted in the sacking of the manager, eventually they comfortably won the championship contest.[10]

Sioni spent the entire 2022 season in battles to move out of the drop zone. Due to poor results, the club twice replaced managers during the year. At the end of the season, they lost both play-off ties to Samtredia and suffered a third relegation in seven seasons.[11]

Seasons edit

Domestic leagues edit

Season League Pos Top scorers Goals Cup
1990 2nd 14/20 Round of 16
1991 2nd 18/18 Quarterfinals
1991/92 3rd
1992/93 2nd 5/16 Round of 16
1993/94 2nd, East 12/18
1994/95 2nd, East 1/16 1st Round
1995/96 1st 9/16 Round of 16
1996/97 1st 9/16 Quarterfinals
1997/98 1st 13/16 Round of 16
1998/99 1st 13/16 Round of 16
1999/2000 1st 6/16 2nd Round
2000/01 1st 8/12 Round of 16
2001/02 1st 8/12 Shalva Isiani 12 Round of 16
2002/03 1st 5/12 Levan Shavgulidze 11 Runners-up
2003/04 1st 2/12 Boris Goncharov 17 Round of 16
2004/05 1st 7/10 Davit Gogoladze 8 Round of 16
2005/06 1st 1/16 Akaki Mikuchadze 19 Semifinals
2006/07 1st 6/14 Semifinals
2007/08 1st 8/14 1st Round
2008/09 1st 5/11 Quarterfinals
2009/10 1st 6/10 Aleksandre Gogoberishvili 6 Round of 16
2010/11 1st 8/10 Revaz Gotsiridze 7 Quarterfinals
2011/12 1st 12/12 Giorgi Kutsurua 4 Round of 16
2012/13 1st 10/12 Giorgi Kakhelishvili, Valeri
Abramidze, Lado Akhalaia
4 Semifinals
2013/14 1st 3/12 Rezo Jikia 6 Quarterfinals
2014/15 1st 13/16 Data Sitchinava 11 2nd Round
2015/16 1st 5/16 Dimitri Tatanashvili 11 Runners-up
2016 1st 6/14[a] Davit Volkovi 6 2nd Round
2017 2nd 3/10[b] Jaba Dvali 21 Round of 16
2018 1st 8/10[c] Davit Kirkitadze 6 3rd Round
2019 1st 9/10[d] Jaba Ugulava 9 Round of 16
2020 2nd 7/10 Zviad Sikharulia 4 2nd Round
2021 2nd 1/10 Data Sitchinava 20 Round of 16
2022 1st 8/10[e] Nika Khorkheli 9 Round of 32
2023 2nd 4/10 Vano Khabelashvili
Gocha Tsirdava
9 Round of 16

Notes edit

  1. ^ Lost to Pirveli Liga side Shukura 4–5 on aggregate in relegation play-offs
  2. ^ Beat Dinamo Batumi on penalties in promotion play-offs
  3. ^ Beat Gagra 4–0 on aggregate in relegation play-offs
  4. ^ Beaten by Samtredia 4–1 on aggregate in relegation play-offs
  5. ^ Lost to Samtredia 3–0 on aggregate in relegation play-offs

Overall edit

Seasons spent in Georgian leagues since 1990:

Umaglesi Liga / Erovnuli Liga (1st tier): 25

Pirveli Liga / Erovnuli Liga 2 (2nd tier): 10

Meore Liga (3rd tier): 1

Correct up to 2024 season

European football edit

Season Competition Round Club Home Away
2003–04 UEFA Cup QR   FK Púchov 0–3 0–3
2006–07 UEFA Champions League 1Q   Baku FC 2–0 0–1
2Q   PFC Levski Sofia 0–2 0–2
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Flamurtari 2–3 2–1

Current squad edit

As of 8 March 2024[12]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   GEO Levan Isiani
3 DF   GEO Giorgi Didebashvili
4 DF   GEO Luka Nozadze
5 DF   GEO Nikoloz Chikovani
6 MF   GEO Nikoloz Nozadze
7 MF   GEO Teimuraz Shonia
8 MF   GEO Givi Mukbaniani
9 FW   GEO Ivane Khabelashvili
10 MF   GEO Data Sitchinava
11 MF   GEO Giorgi Ugrekhelidze
14 MF   GEO Luka Gegeshidze
15 DF   GEO Giorgi Koripadze
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 FW   GEO Tornike Kapanadze
17 DF   GEO Givi Khetsuriani
18 FW   GEO Luka Kokosadze
19 GK   GEO Konstantine Sepiashvili
20 DF   GEO Levan Kurdadze
21 DF   GEO Ivane Potskhveria
23 DF   GEO Gocha Tsirdava
24 DF   GEO Nodar Iashvili
25 MF   GEO Andria Devdariani
27 MF   GEO Luka Chaganava
32 GK   GEO Luka Avaliani
36 DF   GEO Giorgi Rekhviashvili

Managers edit

  •   Kakha Tskhadadze (Dec 31, 2005 – Aug 31, 2006)
  •   Giorgi Kipshidze (Jul 1, 2007 – Jun 30, 2008)
  •   Otar Korgalidze (Jul 1, 2008 – Jun 30, 2009)
  •   Temur Makharadze (Jul 1, 2008 – Jun 30, 2010)
  •   Giorgi Kipshidze (Jul 1, 2010 – Mar 19, 2011)
  •   Khvicha Kasrashvili (Mar 18, 2011–1?)
  •   Vakhtang Chagelishvili (Jul 1, 2011–1?)
  •   Levan Bajelidze (Sept 15, 2011 – Jan 12, 2012)
  •   Khvicha Kasrashvili (Jan 15 – Aug 27, 2012)
  •   Armaz Jeladze (Aug 28, 2012 – Jun 1, 2013)
  •   Giorgi Kiknadze (Jun 1, 2013–Oct, 2013)
  •   Vladimir Burduli (Oct, 2013–)
  •   Koba Zhorzhikashvili (2017–2018)
  •   Teimuraz Shalamberidze (2018–2019)
  •   Davit Kokiashvili (February - July 2020)
  •   Varlam Kilasonia (July 2020 - June 2021)
  •    Giorgi Daraselia (June 2021 - March 2022)
  •   Ucha Sosiashvili (March - November 2022)
  •   Giorgi Chelidze (November - December 2022)
  •   Koba Zhorzhikashvili (February - June 2023)
  •   Giorgi Okropiridze (June 2023 - March 2024)
  •   Giorgi Devdariani (since March 2024)

Honours edit

Sponsors edit

Rich Metals Group, engaged in mining activities near Bolnisi, signed a first sponsorship contract with Sioni in 2016.[13]

Name edit

While Sioni is a Georgian equivalent of Zion, the football club is named after Bolnisi Sioni, the fifth century cathedral located near the current municipal centre.

References edit

  1. ^ "The Cup final of 2001/02 (in Georgian)". msy.gov.ge.
  2. ^ "UEFA Cup ban for Georgian club Sioni". ESPNsoccernet. 2004-06-01. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  3. ^ "Umaglesi Liga, 2005-06". RSSSF.
  4. ^ "UEFA Champions League History, Season 2006–2007, First qualifying round". uefa.com. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  5. ^ "UEFA Champions League History, Season 2006–2007, Second qualifying round". uefa.com. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  6. ^ "CIS tournament 2007". wildstat.com.
  7. ^ "თბილისის "დინამომ" საქართველოს თასი მოიპოვა". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 18 May 2016.
  8. ^ "სიონი" ამ საუკუნეში პირველად გავარდა". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 6 December 2016.
  9. ^ "ბოლნისის "სიონი" ეროვნული ლიგა 2-ის გამარჯვებულია". gazetibolnisi.ge (in Georgian), 27 November 2021.
  10. ^ "სიონი ეროვნულ ლიგაში დაბრუნდა". leadersport.ge (in Georgian), 27 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  11. ^ "სამტრედია" ეროვნულ ლიგაში დაბრუნდა, "სიონი" ლიგა 2-ში გავარდა". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 11 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Sioni squad in 2024". erovnuliliga.ge.
  13. ^ "ბოლნისის "სიონს" კომპანია RMG დააფინანსებს". worldsport.com. 3 October 2016.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Official Facebook page
  • FC Bolnisi Results on Flashscore
  • Profile on Soccerway