Dila won the Georgian Cup in 2012 and Georgian Championship in 2015.
History
In the Soviet leagues
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
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.
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.
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.
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