Georgian footballer
Merab Gigauri (Georgian: მერაბ გიგაური; born 5 January 1993) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays for midfielder for Erovnuli Liga club Torpedo Kutaisi, which he captains.
He has played for eight clubs in three countries as well as in all national youth teams.
Gigauri is the winner of Erovnuli Liga, the national Cup and Georgian Super Cup.[1]
Career
Club
Gigauri started his professional career at Torpedo Kutaisi in 2010. He scored his top-flight goal in a 1–0 win against Zestafoni.[2]
After the first season Gigauri left the club on loan.[3] He made his Ekstraklasa debut for Jagiellonia Białystok on 26 November 2011 in a game against ŁKS Łódź as a 58th-minute substitute for Hermes.[4] Despite the lack of playing time, his desire was to stay on with this club,[5] although he returned to Torpedo after the loan agreement had expired.
In July 2016, he joined Pirveli Liga side Rustavi,[6] who won their league group this season in spite of a six-point deduction.
At the end of 2016 Gigauri moved to Torpedo again,[7] where he earned four trophies, including the league title in 2017.
When a severe financial crisis hit the club in mid-2019, twelve players were forced to find new teams. On 27 June 2019, Gigauri signed a one-year contract with Gabala.[8] During the first fourteen games he was four times included in the symbolic team of the league.[9]
In the summer of 2022, Gigauri started his fourth spell at Torpedo,[10] where he was confirmed as the team captain next May. Gigauri netted his first European goal with Torpedo in 2023. His injury-time leveller against FK Sarajevo helped the team to make it through to the second round of the UEFA Conference League.[11]
On 8 November 2024, Gigauri was greeted with heartwarming gestures from the fans on his 250th appearance for Torpedo in a 1–0 win over Dinamo Batumi.[12]
International
Gigauri made his debut for Georgia national football team on 5 June 2013 in a friendly against Denmark.[13]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 8 December 2024[14]
Honours
Torpedo Kutaisi[15]
References
External links