The club has its origins in Gagra, Abkhazia. It was founded in Tbilisi by former player and coach Goderdzi Chikhradze and his cousin in 2004 with a plan to move the club to Gagra in the end,[1] but due to the enduring Russian occupation the team plays its home games in Tbilisi.
FC Gagra is the only non-top flight Georgian team, which has twice won the national Cup.
History
First years, 2004–2010
Gagra players in 2010
The new club was formed as FC Gagra in 2004 in Regionuli Liga, where they won promotion to Pirveli Liga.
After winning their second-tier division, Gagra lost the promotion play-off in 2005–06 and 2006–07. In 2007–08, they again lost the promotion play-off, but after some withdrawals in the Umaglesi Liga the team was finally promoted.[2]
In the 2008–09 season, the team played in the top league,[3] but were to be relegated in the end.[4] Gagra avoided relegation only after higher placed teams withdrew from the league.[5]
Prolific decade, 2011–21
Gagra won the first League of 2010–2011 season,[6] and became the winner of the Georgian Cup by defeating three-time winners Torpedo Kutaisi 1–0 after extra time.[7]
In every season since the relegation to Liga 2 in 2012, Gagra were considered tough rivals aiming at the first division with 5th place being the worst final position. Overall, the club took part in Erovnuli Liga playoffs six times in sixteen years, although failed to overcome their opponents until 2021 when they beat Shukura and returned to the top flight after a ten-year absence.[8]
Gagra's performance in David Kipiani Cup has proved successful. As a second-division team, they reached the final in 2018 for the second time only to lose on penalty shootout. Two years later, though, they knocked out five clubs, including some of those regarded as contenders for the title, and won the cup without conceding a single goal in 630 minutes.[9]
As a three-times finalist and two-times winner of the Cup final within these 10 years,[10] Gagra achieved one of the best results among Georgian clubs.
Among the strongest, since 2022
Тhe 2023 season was noteworthy was for Gagra. First, they achieved the best results in the top division and sealed their league place for a third successive year. Besides, forward Zurab Museliani, who netted 17 goals, finished among the three top scorers of the season.[11] Gagra's junior team also shined. Although they made a debut in the fifth division, the team won the title race and gained automatic promotion to Liga 4.[12]
As the winners of the 2010/11 Cup competition, Gagra took part in UEFA Europa League second qualifying round against the high-flying Anorthosis Famagusta. Widely regarded as favourites of the tie, the Cypriot side had a clear advantage in Larnaca, which resulted in 3-0 victory,[13] but Gagra fought back in the second leg held in Zestafoni. They scored an early goal, shortly afterwards increased the lead, although eventually failed to equalize the aggregate score.[14]
Georgian national team member Tornike Okriashvili started his career as a professional player in this club in 2009/2010,[16] before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk on loan.
