Temuri Ketsbaia

Infobox Football biography
playername = Temuri Ketsbaia


fullname = Temuri Ketsbaia
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1968|3|18
cityofbirth = Gali
countryofbirth = Georgia, Soviet Union
height = height|m=1.76
currentclub = Anorthosis Famagusta (Manager)
position = Midfielder (Retired)
youthyears = 1986
1987
youthclubs = Dinamo Sukhumi
Dinamo Tbilisi
years = 1987-1992
1992-1994
1994-1997
1997-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2006
clubs = Dinamo Tbilisi
Anorthosis Famagusta
AEK
Newcastle United
Wolves
Dundee
Anorthosis Famagusta
Total
caps(goals) = 054 00(8)
076 (36)
084 0(23)
078 00(8)
024 00(3)
022 00(6)
099 0(39)
437 (123)
nationalyears = 1992-2002
nationalteam = Georgia
nationalcaps(goals) = 045 0(15)
manageryears = 2004-
managerclubs = Anorthosis Famagusta

Temuri Ketsbaia (born March 18, 1968 in Gali) is a retired Georgian football midfielder who was previously one of the leading players with the Georgian national team. Known for his powerful shot and unpredictable personality, Ketsbaia is held in very high esteem by numerous sections of football fans across Europe. He is currently football manager for Anorthosis Famagusta.

Born in Gali, Abkhaz ASSR, Georgian SSR, he began his career with minor Georgian team Dinamo Sukhumi before transferring to Dinamo Tbilisi, the country's biggest team. He came to prominence whilst with Dinamo and earned a move to Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta FC in 1992 and then to Greece with AEK Athens FC, winning the Greek Cup with the club.

Under the Bosman ruling, Ketsbaia became a free agent and joined Newcastle United in the summer of 1997. A popular figure with the fans, Ketsbaia is not only remembered for his performance, but also for his bizarre celebrations, such as aggressively kicking the advertising hoardings (McDonald's and Adidas ones specifically) after scoring a goal against Bolton.

As a Newcastle United player, he participated in the 1998 and 1999 FA Cup Final against Arsenal and Manchester United. Although Newcastle United lost 2-0 on both occasions, these matches were the highlight of his football career.

He left St James' Park in 2000 to sign for Wolves and in 2001 joined Dundee F.C. during a time when the club began to spend at unheard of levels.

He returned to Anorthosis in the Summer of 2002 as a player-coach. He remains at the club, where he became player-manager in January 2004. In his first summer he bought 11 players, mostly well-known ones, who helped the team win the championship title in Ketsbaia's first full-season as a manager.

In the summer of 2005, Ketsbaia entered the Cypriot football hall of fame as Anorthosis beat Turkish side Trabzonspor in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, despite being underdogs. However the following season was a disaster for Ketsbaia and Anorthosis as they finished 4th in the league and failed to qualify for Europe. In the summer of 2004, he made massive changes to the squad, bringing in eleven new players. He was hoping to re-establish Anorthosis as the dominant force in Cypriot football.

On June 30, 2007, Ketsbaia announced his retirement from professional football. His last match before retiring was held on July 14, 2007. [ [http://www.abkhazia.com/content/view/316/82/ Ketsbaia announces retirement] , "Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research". June 30, 2007.]

On September 28, 2008, he threw his name in the ring for the vacant Newcastle managers position. In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, he said: "I had a great opportunity to play at Newcastle as a player, so why not as a manager?" [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-united/2008/09/28/exclusive-temuri-ketsbaia-wants-newcastle-job-115875-20758166/ Ketsbaia wants Newcastle job] , "Sunday Mirror" September 28, 2008.]

In the 2008-2009 season, Anorthosis, having Ketsbaia at the wheel, was the first Cypriot team in history to reach the group stage of UEFA Champions League, after defeating Olympiakos 3-1 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.

Honours

As a Player:

Dinamo Tbilisi
*Georgian League: 1990, 1991, 1992
*Georgian Cup: 1992

AEK
*Greek Cup: 1996, 1997
*Greek Super Cup: 1996

Anorthosis Famagusta
*Cypriot Championship: 2005
*Cypriot Cup: 2003, 2007

As a Coach:

Anorthosis Famagusta
*Cypriot Championship: 2005, 2008
*Cypriot Cup: 2007
*Cypriot Super Cup: 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=10522 Career totals up to 2002]
* [http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=whereAreTheyNow&initial=K&playerID=637514 Where are they now - Temuri Ketsbaia]
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=fDjLlsm-138 Ketsbaia compilation video]