FC Dila (Georgian: საფეხბურთო კლუბი დილა) is a Georgian professional football club based in Gori. The club takes part in the Erovnuli Liga, the first tier of Georgian football, and plays their home games at Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium.

FC Dila Gori
Full nameFootball Club Dila Gori
Nickname(s)Guarders
Founded1949; 75 years ago (1949)
GroundTengiz Burjanadze Stadium
Gori, Georgia
Capacity5,000
ChairmanDavit Koziashvili
ManagerRicardo Costa
CoachFrancisco Castro
LeagueErovnuli Liga
20234th
Websitehttp://fcdila.ge

Dila won the Georgian Cup in 2012 and Georgian Championship in 2015.

History

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In the Soviet leagues

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Founded in 1949, the club was named after poem "Dila" (literally - morning) written by Joseph Stalin, who was born in the city and spent his youth there.[1]

Until 1961, they played under the name Dinamo Gori in Group A of Georgian republican championship. Following the second place in 1965, the next year Dila took part in the Soviet third league and despite an unbeaten run at home finished 11th among 20 clubs in zone 4, Group B.[2]

In 1969, Dila won the competition among the Caucasian teams.[3] The club played several seasons in zone 4 of the Soviet Second League and after 1979 moved to zone 9 where Transcaucasia was represented. In 1967, 1974, and 1986, Dila reached the 3rd place which was their best result in the Soviet third division.

In Georgian leagues

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In 1990, Georgia formed an independent league, which included all clubs from the first three Soviet football divisions. Before 2000 Dila were an average team sitting in mid-table, but in the second decade their performance deteriorated. Although most of the seasons Dila participated in the top league, twice they were relegated to Liga 2 and once to Liga 3.

In 2010, the rise started with Dila gaining two consecutive promotions within two years. In 2012 the club clinched their first title after winning the Georgian Cup[4] and during the next five seasons four times represented Georgia in qualifying rounds of UEFA club competitions, including the Champions League. Also, twice in a row Dila participated in Europa League play-offs. During this period they were reinforced by national team members Nukri Revishvili, Giorgi Navalovski, Otar Martsvaladze and Mate Vatsadze.

Dila won their first top-tier medals in 2013. With a single point in the starting four matches the club seemed an unlikely candidate for trophies, but later they produced an eleven-game winning run, beating all league opponents one after another, and ended up in the second place.[5]

The club achieved their biggest success in the 2014/15 season under 25-year-old head coach Ucha Sosiashvili.[6] Dila, whose squad included experienced players Aleksandre Kvakhadze, Irakli Modebadze and Nika Kvekveskiri, entered the title race in an early stage and concluded the season with six points clear from their two immediate rivals.[7] Forward Irakli Modebadze became a league topscorer with 16 goals.

Facing some financial difficulties, FC Dila as a municipal property was sold at a public auction the next year.[8] As a result, Israeli business group Starsportinvest took charge of the club in October 2016.[9]

For three consecutive seasons starting from 2020 Dila emerged victorious from long tight contests over the league bronze medals.

Seasons

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Season League Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P Cup Europe
1990 Umaglesi Liga 10 34 12 6 16 52 58 42 Round of 8
1991 11 19 7 3 9 29 32 24 Round of 8
1991–92 10 38 14 8 16 64 64 50 Round of 16
1992–93 13 32 11 5 16 39 49 38 Round of 8
1993–94 9 18 4 2 12 12 35 14 Round of 8
1994–95 8 30 10 7 13 25 35 37 Round of 8
1995–96 8 30 12 4 14 53 55 40 Quarter-finals
1996–97 8 30 10 7 13 30 39 37
1997–98 9 30 11 4 15 31 36 37 Semi-finals
1998–99 10 30 10 5 15 37 54 35 Round of 8
1999–00 8 14 6 2 6 19 24 20 Quarter-finals
2000–01 10[a] 22 5 3 14 14 44 18 Quarter-finals
2001–02 Pirveli Liga 2 22 15 4 3 51 14 49 Round of 8
2002–03 Umaglesi Liga 7 22 6 3 13 17 29 21 Quarter-finals
2003–04 6 22 10 4 8 28 20 34 Semi-finals Inter-Toto Cup
2004–05 10 36 2 4 30 20 88 10 Round of 8
2005–06 11 30 9 4 17 35 44 31 Round of 16
2006–07 13 26 3 6 17 21 56 15 Round of 16
2007–08 14 26 1 5 20 12 53 8 Quarter-finals
2008–09 Pirveli Liga East 5 30 12 9 9 48 31 45
2009–10 Meore Liga East 1
2010–11 Pirveli Liga 3[b] 32 20 9 3 58 21 69 Round of 16
2011–12 Umaglesi Liga 5 28 10 7 11 38 32 37 Winner
2012–13 2 32 22 2 8 60 26 48 Quarter-finals Europa League Play-off
2013–14 9 32 11 8 13 44 36 41 Semi-finals Europa League Play-off
2014–15 1 30 19 7 4 50 21 64 Quarter-finals
2015–16 3 30 19 5 6 51 25 62 Second Round Champions League 2Q
2016 5[c] 12 5 2 5 13 12 17 Second Round Europa League 1Q
2017 Erovnuli Liga 7 36 11 8 17 41 51 41 Quarter-finals
2018 5 36 17 12 7 60 40 63 Round of 16
2019 7 36 11 10 15 40 44 43 Round of 16
2020 3 18 8 6 4 29 17 30 Quarter-finals
2021 3 36 17 10 9 48 35 61 Round of 16 Conference League 1Q
2022 3 36 17 8 11 48 35 59 Quarter-finals Conference League 1Q
2023 4 36 17 9 10 56 39 60 Quarter-finals Conference League 3Q

Notes

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  1. ^ Lost 0–2 to Samgurali in playoffs
  2. ^ Defeated Samtredia 2–0 in playoffs
  3. ^ Beat Guria 2–0 in playoffs

European competitions

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Dila Gori debuted in UEFA competitions in 2004. Although the club did not obtain an Intertoto Cup slot based on their league position, they replaced a higher placed team, which abstained from the participation. After being held to a goalless draw at home, Marek Dupnitsa beat Dila in the return leg.[10] Later the next decade there were three more cases when the Georgian side achieved relatively better results in away games than back home.

As the Cup winners, the team reached Europe League play-offs in 2012. During this campaign Dila eliminated two opponents, including Anorthosis Famagusta, which was further subjected to UEFA sanctions for crowd disturbances occurred during their home game.[11]

The next year Dila similarly prevailed in two rounds of the competition before their road to the group stage was blocked by Rapid Vienna. The team's performance against Igor Tudor's Hajduk Split was widely hailed this season.[12]

In next four cases the club wrapped up their European seasons after the first round.

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1Q   Marek Dupnitsa 0–2 0–0 0–2
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 2Q   AGF Aarhus 3–1 2–1 5–2
3Q   Anorthosis Famagusta 0–1 3–0 3–1
PO   Marítimo 0–2 0–1 0–3
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 2Q   AaB 3–0 0–0 3–0
3Q   Hajduk Split 1–0 1–0 2–0
PO   Rapid Wien 0–3 0–1 0–4
2015–16 UEFA Champions League 1Q   Partizan 0–2 0–1 0–3
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Shirak 1–0 0–1 1–1[a]
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q   Žilina 2–1 1–5 3–6
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q   KuPS 0–0 0–2 0–2
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q   DAC Dunajská Streda 2–0 1–2 3–2
2Q   Vorskla Poltava 3–1 1–2 4–3
3Q   APOEL 0–2 0–1 0–3
Notes
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round
  • 3Q: Third qualifying round
  • PO: Play-off round

Fully up to date as of match played 17 August 2023

  1. ^ Shirak won 4–1 on penalties.
Competition Pld W D L GF GA
UEFA Champions League 2 0 0 2 0 3
UEFA Europa League 14 7 1 6 14 11
UEFA Europa Conference League 10 3 1 6 10 16
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2 0 1 1 0 2
Total 28 10 3 15 24 32

Stadium

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Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium

The club play their home matches at the Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium, a 5,000 seater football stadium situated in Gori.

Crest and colours

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The club's colors are Red and light blue.

Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturers

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Period Kit Supplier Kit Sponsor
2010–2011 Saller HeidelbergCement
2011–2012 Jako
2012–2013 Nike
2013–2014 Saller AGP
2014–2015 Saller Lider-Bet
2021–2022 Adidas Marsbet

Current squad

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As of 28 July 2024[13]

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 Davit Kereselidze
2 DF   GEO Giorgi Gaprindashvili
3 DF   ANG Kaly
4 DF   GEO Vakhtang Bochorishvili
5 DF   GEO Zurab Rukhadze
6 DF   GEO Aleksandre Andronikashvili
7 FW   MLI Aboubacar Konté
9 FW   SEN Ibrahima Dramé
10 FW   NED Tayrell Wouter
11 MF   GEO Otar Parulava
13 DF   BRA João Araújo
16 GK   GEO Paolo Puladze
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF   ISR Omer Itzhak
21 MF   POR João Nóbrega
22 FW   GEO Shota Shekiladze
23 MF   ANG António Lopes
25 DF   UKR Ivan Lytvynenko
28 FW   CGO Deo Bassinga
29 FW   CIV Moussa Sangare
30 GK   GEO Nika Kavtaradze
33 DF   CGO Ramaric Etou
FW   GEO Nodar Lominadze (on loan from Dinamo Tbilisi)

Management

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Position Name
Chairman Davit Koziashvili
Manager General Ricardo Costa
Sporting director Vano Khorguashvili
Head coach Francisco Castro
Assistant coach Sérgio Santos
Fitness coach Vakhtang Akopyan
Goalkeeping coach Ramaz Sogolashvili

Honours

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Managers

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Top goalscorers

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Season Name Goals
2011–12   Davit Chagelishvili 5
2012–13   Roman Akhalkatsi, Irakli Modebadze 4
2013–14   Irakli Modebadze 9
2014–15   Irakli Modebadze 16
2015–16   Otar Martsvaladze 19
2016   Aleko Gamtsemlidze 3
2017   Giorgi Pantsulaia 8
2018   Mykola Kovtalyuk 21
2019   Alvin Fortes 8
2020   Mykola Kovtalyuk 10
2021   Tornike Kapanadze 10
2022   Tornike Kapanadze 9
2023   Thierry Gale,   Mykola Kovtalyuk 10

References

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  1. ^ UEFA.com (31 July 2012). "Dila Gori hoping to strike gold for Georgia". UEFA.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. ^ "1966 Championship". Wildstat. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. ^ "1969 Championship". Wildstat. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. ^ "გორის "დილა" საქართველოს თასის მფლობელია!". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 27 May 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ^ "გორის დილას მოვერცხლილი ისტორია". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 29 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Dila and 25-year-old coach claim maiden title". uefa.com.
  7. ^ "გორის "დილა" საქართველოს ჩემპიონია". liberali.ge (in Georgian). 14 May 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  8. ^ "გორის "დილა" გაიყიდა". Radio Liberty (in Georgian). 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. ^ ""დილას" მეპატრონე: მომავალი სეზონიდან გეყოლებათ გუნდი, რომლითაც იამაყებთ!". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 26 October 2016. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Dila vs Marek". flashscore.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  11. ^ "UEFA rules on Anorthosis game". uefa.com. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  12. ^ "დილა-ჰაიდუკი 1:0 - "ჰაიდუკიც" გაგორდა". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 9 August 2013. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  13. ^ "FC Dila Gori squad". soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
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