The team first made headlines after achieving three consecutive promotions in 2018–20. In 2024, Gareji secured a top-flight spot for the first time in their history.
History
League
Established in 1960, during the Soviet period Gareji for many years participated in Georgian republican championship and later, after 1990, spent several seasons in the second and third divisions.
A recent rise of the team started from Regionuli Liga in 2018. Apart from winning its Group East, Gareji also secured an easy win in a home-and-away play-off tie against their Liga 3 opponents.[1] As members of the newly created Liga 4, they finished just below the promotion zone, which was still widely regarded as success for the debutants. Further events unfolded unexpectedly. After Tskhinvali failed to fulfill their financial obligations, they were expelled from Liga 3[2] and replaced by Gareji, who filled the vacuum as a 3rd placed team.
Against all odds, the promoted team under head coach Tengiz Kobiashvili emerged among the third division leaders from the outset of the 2020 season and convincingly prevailed over their rivals in promotion battle by winning 14 games out of 18.[3] With this achievement Gareji completed a remarkable journey from the fifth division to Liga 2 within the shortest period of time.
Once in the second league, for most of 2021 Gareji were still aiming at the promotion, competing with Merani Martvili for a third qualifying place. Ultimately, the latter gained the upper hand, although Gareji recorded some impressive victories, including 8–0, which was the biggest win of the season for any Liga 2 team. Forward Giorgi Kharebashvili shined in this match by scoring six times.[4]
During the 2023 season, the club seemed clear favourites to gain yet another promotion with going eleven points clear of immediate rivals at one point in June.[5] However, Kolkheti 1913 managed to close the gap and finish atop the league table after a 1–1 draw in a crunch game held in Sagarejo on the final day of this season. Gareji could have still advanced to the top flight via play-offs, but suffered a 5–4 aggregate defeat at the hands of Samtredia.[6] Their striker Levan Papava finished this season as the league top scorer with 23 goals.
The forward improved his statistics the next year to win the same title again, but his club made history after winning a tight contest for promotion to the top tier. Despite a disappointing start to the season (five points in six matches), for once Gareji avoided dropping points in the crucial phase and secured the champion's title after a 3–2 away win at Kolkheti Khobi with a game still in hand.[7]
Georgian Cup
In 2019, Gareji became a first ever 4th league team in Georgian football history to reach semifinals of the national Cup.[8] The fact that head coach Davit Kokiashvili quit Gareji two days prior to the game may have affected the club,[9] but they offered Locomotive a decent resistance during the entire match. Despite taking the lead after the first 45 minutes, eventually Gareji lost after conceding the third goal from the penalty spot.[10]
The next year Gareji were eliminated by Samgurali, the runners-up of the Cup.[11]
The team reached quarterfinals in 2021 where they lost to future Cup winners Saburtalo in the dying minutes of the game.[12]
In 2024, Gareji knocked out two top-tier teams, including league leaders Dila, but crashed out in the quarterfinals after an extra-time narrow defeat from Kolkheti 1913.[13]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Gareji also have a reserve team, which participates in Group A of Regionuli Liga. This team is Gareji II.[15]
Stadium
Gareji's home arena is the Central stadium with the capacity of 2,000 seats, which sustained major reconstruction works in 2018.[16]
Name
Gareji is the name of ancient rock-hewn St.David monastery complex, situated in the southern semi-desert part of the Sagarejo minicipality, which is inscribed on the club emblem.
