Georgian footballer
Zuriko "Zuka" Davitashvili (Georgian: ზურიკო დავითაშვილი, romanized: zurik'o davitashvili; born 15 February 2001) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Ligue 2 club Bordeaux and the Georgia national team. He also plays as an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Early career
Davitashvili made his career debut for Dinamo Tbilisi on 29 September 2017 in a match against Kolkheti Poti. He came on the pitch in the 72nd minute.[1]
In 2018, he moved to Locomotive Tbilisi.[2] In the same year The Guardian named Davitashvili among 60 best young players worldwide.[3]
As a distinguished player of the Georgian U17 team, he received a golden medal from the Football Federation.[4] Тhis acknowledgement resulted from his highly prolific performance in two qualifying rounds of 2018 European U17 championship. Being captain of the team, he scored seven goals in six matches, including a poker against N.Macedonia.[5]
A year later he was named as the best young Georgian football player of the season.[6]
Russia
On 29 June 2019, Davitashvili signed a three-year contract with Russian Premier League club Rubin Kazan.[7] He made his Russian Premier League debut for Rubin on 15 July 2019 in the season opener against Lokomotiv Moscow, as a starter.[8]
UEFA included Zuriko Davitashvili in the list of fifty young talents in early 2020.[9]
On 20 August 2020, Davitashvili joined Rotor Volgograd on loan for the 2020–21 season.[10] On 16 July 2021, his contract with Rubin was terminated by mutual consent.[11] Four days later, he signed for Arsenal Tula.[12]
Return to Georgia
On 23 March 2022, Davitashvili signed with Dinamo Batumi. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIFA gave foreign players playing in Russia the permission to terminate their contract immediately.[13]
Bordeaux
On 2 September 2022 Davitashvili moved to Bordeaux on a one-year loan deal.[14] His goal in a debut game helped his new club to secure victory over Dijon on 17 September.[15] Following the 2022–23 season, the club exercised the option to purchase him on a four-year deal.[16]
International career
Before 2016, Davitashvili played for the Georgia under-17s. After 2017, he played for the Georgia under-19s.[17] He made his debut for Georgia national team on 5 September 2019 in a friendly against South Korea, as a starter.[18] Three days later in a friendly game against Bulgaria he netted his first goal.[19]
Davitashvili took part in 2023 European U21 Championship, co-hosted by Georgia. His stunning solo goal scored against Netherlands in a 1-1 draw proved crucial for winning the group stage. For his display Davitashvilil received the Player of the Match award.[20]
Personal life
Zuriko Davitashvili is the son of former football player Suliko Davitashvili, who later became a football coach working with youth teams and at professional clubs such as Rustavi.[26]
Zuriko has a sister and younger brother.
He got married in 2023.[27] The birth of his son was announced in November 2023.[28]
