FC Merani Martvili

History

The town of Martvili has previously been home to clubs known as Salkhino Gegechkori during the Soviet era, as well as Chkondidi Martvili and Salkhino Martvili. FC Merani itself was established in 2006 by Fridon Injia, a former Georgian minister of communications. In its debut season in the Pirveli Liga under head coach Malkhaz Zhvania, the team finished third and remained among the top five clubs until earning promotion to the Umaglesi Liga in the 2011/12 season.

In 2010, Merani became the first second-division side to reach the semifinals of the David Kipiani Cup, losing 1–2 on aggregate to WIT Georgia, who went on to win the trophy that year. The following season, Merani secured second place in the league and gained promotion to the top flight. Over the next five years in the Umaglesi Liga, the club’s best performance came in its first season, finishing fifth in the regular season and qualifying for the championship round. In subsequent years, the team was mostly involved in relegation battles.

Merani was relegated in the 2015/16 season, but that same year it reached the Cup final by eliminating Dila, Kolkheti 1913, and Chikhura. In the final, held in Zestaponi, the team lost to Torpedo Kutaisi. In 2017, Merani came close to returning to the Erovnuli Liga but lost to Kolkheti 1913 in the promotion play-offs.

At the end of the following season, the team lost its final two league matches and unexpectedly finished at the bottom of the table, resulting in automatic relegation. After one year in Liga 3, the club returned to the second division. In early 2021, Pridon Injia left the club, and Jesi Surmava, head of the Martvili Football School, took over management, leading to major changes among staff and players. Twenty-seven-year-old head coach Tsotne Moniava, in his first year leading a professional side, was named Manager of Round IV (October–December) after guiding Merani to bronze medals and the promotion playoffs.

Two of Merani’s players were also named to the symbolic team of the round. Despite holding a two-goal lead from the first leg at home against Torpedo Kutaisi, the club suffered a heartbreaking extra-time defeat in a dramatic and action-packed return leg. Two years later, Merani suffered an automatic relegation, although after a single season in Liga 3 they snatched a last-gasp aggregate play-off victory over Shturmi to seal promotion back to the 2nd division.

Did You Know?

• The Murtaz Khurtsilava stadium hosted the Georgian Super Cup game in February 2017.
• Merani's reserve team, Merani-2, competes in Liga 4.
• In 2021, 27-year-old head coach Tsotne Moniava was named Manager of Round IV (October–December) in his first year in charge of a professional club.