FC Spaeri
| Founded | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Ground | Spaeri Stadium, Tbilisi |
| Capacity | 2,500 |
| Manager | Kakha Maisuradze |
| League | Erovnuli Liga 2 |
| 2023 | 3rd in Erovnuli Liga 2 |
FC Spaeri (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი სპაერი) is a Georgian association football club based in Tbilisi. The club competes in Liga 2, the second tier of the Georgian football system.
History[edit]
Spaeri was established in 2017 by five individuals working in the Special State Protection Service,[1] the badge of the team resembling the logo of the SSPS. The team mostly consisted of the servicemen of this organization and initially participated in the Tbilisi Open League - the 5th and lowest level of the league pyramid[2] before becoming a member of the Regionuli Liga.[3]
Spaeri finished the 2018 season as runners-up and obtained the right to take part in the newly created Liga 4. Having won 21 games out of 27, they claimed the 2019 Liga 4 title and won automatic promotion to Liga 3.
Their debut in the third division was impressive with Spaeri vying for a promotion play-off place up until the last matchday. Eventually, the club came two points short of third place.[4]
The team improved their performance in 2021 and, following an unbeaten run in 20 league games, won the 2021 Liga 3 title six rounds before the end of the season.[5]
Initially, they did not seem encouraging in the second division. With a single point in their initial four matches, Spaeri were sitting bottom of the table. However, the team quickly recovered, produced the longest unbeaten streak of the season and qualified for the promotion play-offs by coming 2nd in the league. Forward Levan Papava became the top scorer of the league with 17 goals netted during the regular season.[6] He added a brace in a dramatic promotion-relegation tie against Erovnuli Liga side Gagra but the team failed to secure promotion as Gagra won on penalties.[7]
Managerial History[edit]
Kakha Maisuradze has been coaching the team since their foundation in 2017.
Stadium[edit]
Spaeri Stadium, located in an eastern suburb of Tbilisi, was officially opened in September 2018.[8] Тhe pitch has an artificial turf.
Seasons[edit]
| Season | League | Position | P | W | D | L | GF–GA | Pts | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Tbilisi Open League | 1st of 9↑ | 21 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 112-18 | 59 | Did not enter |
| 2018 | Regionuli Liga, Group A | 2nd of 11↑ | 20 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 79-18 | 61 | 1st Round |
| 2019 | Liga 4 | 1st of 10↑ | 27 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 73-29 | 64 | 3rd Round |
| 2020 | Liga 3 | 4th of 10 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 31-20 | 30 | 3rd Round |
| 2021 | 1st of 10↑ | 26 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 79-20 | 64 | 3rd Round | |
| 2022 | Liga 2 | 2nd of 10 | 28 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 57-35 | 51 | Round of 16 |
| 2023 | 3rd of 10 | 36 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 68-48 | 66 | Round of 16 |
Current squad[edit]
As of 1 August 2023[9]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours[edit]
Georgian[edit]
- Erovnuli Liga 2
- Liga 3
- Winners (1): 2021
- Liga 4
- Winners (1): 2019
- Regionuli Liga
- Runners-up (1): 2018 (East A)
- Tbilisi Open League
- Winners (1): 2017
References[edit]
- ^ "გავიცნოთ სპაერი". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "გავიცნოთ "სპაერი" - სახელმწიფო დაცვის სპეციალური სამსახურის კლუბი". worldsport.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- ^ "ახალი ქართული კლუბი სპაერი". sportall.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "2020 regular season". soccerway.com. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Liga 3, 2021". gff.ge.
- ^ "Statistics, 2022". erovnuliliga.ge.
- ^ "გაგრას 3:3 ფლეი-ოფში პენალტებში გამარჯვება - თრილერი და". crystalsport.ge (in Georgian). 12 December 2022.
- ^ "სპაერის სტადიონი საზეიმო ვითარებაში გაიხსნა". sportall.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "List of players". erovnuliliga.ge.