Giorgi Kiknadze

Who is Giorgi Kiknadze?

Georgi Kiknadze is a Georgian footballer and coach who played for FC Dinamo Tbilisi, FC Torpedo Kutaisi, Samsunspor, Freiburg, Lokomotivi Tbilisi, Spartaki Tblisi and the Georgian national team as a midfielder. As part of the Dinamo Tbilisi team he won the Umaglesi Liga five times running from 1994 to 1998, and the Georgian Cup four years running from 1994 to 1997. He was also a runner-up in the Georgian Cup in 1998.

Kiknadze joined Turkish club Samsunspor in October 1999, but stayed only one season, making just four appearances before moving to SC Freiburg in Germany. He failed to make the first team in his two seasons in Germany, and in 2003 he was released by Freiburg. He then returned to Georgia, where he played for Lokomotivi Tbilisi and later Spartaki Tblisi.

He made his international debut on 5 December 1996 in a friendly match against Lebanon. Kiknadze captained the side in a 4–2 defeat, scoring Georgia's second goal. He obtained the last of his ten international caps on 28 April 1999, coming on as a substitute in a 4–1 loss against Norway.

Kiknadze started the 2006–07 season as coach of Olimpi Rustavi, entering coaching at the relatively young age of 30.