# FC Shukura Kobuleti

FC Shukura Kobuleti, commonly known as Shukura Kobuleti or simply Shukura, is a Georgian football club from Kobuleti, the second largest city in Adjara.
After the 2023 season, the team was first relegated to Erovnuli Liga 2, the second tier of Georgian football, and later expelled to Liga 4. But they withdrew without playing a single match there.

## History

Established in 1968, Shukura played eight seasons in the Soviet third division.
After an independent Georgian league was formed in 1990, the club took part in II league competition before getting promoted to Umaglesi Liga for 1993/94. After one season, though, they lost a relegation battle.
A decade later the team managed to earn another promotion after 2003/04, but facing severe financial problems, Shukura was unable to play in the first tier.
In 2011/12, Shukura won the third division and advanced to II league. They had another successful season in 2013/14, when the club returned to the top flight and also for the first time reached the semifinals of David Kipiani Cup after Umaglesi Liga clubs WIT Georgia and Merani had been eliminated.
In October 2019, Giorgi Shashiashvili took the helm of Shukura and a year later led the club to successful completion of their promotion goal, although after one season the club returned to league 2.
The team came close to the Cup final in 2021. Having initially beaten Dinamo Tbilisi, Shukura was ahead of Samgurali three minutes before the stoppage time, but still lost a dramatic five-goal thriller.
In 2022, Shukura sealed the first place in Liga 2 for the third time in a decade and claimed the champion's record-breaking fifth title in the history of the second division. In the same year, development company Alliance Group Holding was confirmed as a majority stakeholder (83%) of the club with its chairman Ayet Kukava taking over the remaining share.
Despite large-scale pre-season changes, Shukura were faced with a turbulent period back in the Erovnuli Liga in 2023. Unable to play at the home ground during the entire season, they were handed a transfer ban at some point and, besides, deducted six points for financial issues. With six matches still to play, Shukura were officially relegated in October. In January 2024, the Football Federation announced that due to Shukura's failure to meet licensing requirements the club would be demoted to the 4th tier.

## Seasons

| Season | Div. | Pos | Notes | Top goalscorer | Cup |
| 2012/13 | 2nd | 3rd of 12 | Group B | Giorgi Chelebadze - 13 | 1/8 |
| 2013/14 | 2nd | 1st of 13 | Group A, promoted | Giorgi Chelebadze - 22 | 1/2 |
| 2014/15 | 1st | 7th of 16 | | Giorgi Chelebadze - 7 | 1/8 |
| 2015/16 | 1st | 10th of 16 | | Elguja Lobjanidze - 7 | 1/4 |
| 2016 | 1st | 5th of 7 | White Group | Koba Shalamberidze - 4 | 1/16 |
| 2017 | 1st | 10th of 10 | Relegated | Davit Chagelishvili - 8 | 1/16 |
| 2018 | 2nd | 7th of 10 | | Giorgi Chelebadze - 10 | 1/4 |
| 2019 | 2nd | 6th of 10 | | Giorgi Kurmashvili - 7 | 1/16 |
| 2020 | 2nd | 1st of 10 | Promoted | Jefinho - 11 | 1/16 |
| 2021 | 1st | 9th of 10 | Relegated | Mikheil Sardalishvili - 8 | 1/2 |
| 2022 | 2nd | 1st of 10 | Promoted | Zurab Museliani - 12 | 1/4 |
| 2023 | 1st | 10th of 10 | Relegated | Davit Mujiri - 9 | 1/16 |

## Current squad

As of 4 November 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | GEO | Gogi Kulua |
| 2 | DF | GEO | Giorgi Kavtaradze |
| 3 | MF | GEO | Aleko Ananidze |
| 4 | DF | GEO | Aliko Chakvetadze |
| 5 | MF | GUI | Guy Koumba |
| 7 | FW | GEO | Beka Verulidze |
| 8 | DF | GEO | Giorgi Kimadze |
| 9 | MF | GEO | Tornike Khabazi |
| 10 | FW | GEO | Zurab Ghirdaladze |
| 11 | MF | GEO | Gia Apkhazava |
| 12 | GK | GEO | Giorgi Abramishvili |
| 13 | MF | GEO | Gaga Gazdeliani |
| 14 | DF | GEO | Luka Asatiani |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | MF | GEO | Luka Nadiradze |
| 16 | MF | GEO | Jani Tsetskhladze |
| 17 | FW | GEO | Giorgi Janelidze |
| 19 | MF | GEO | David Mujiri |
| 21 | DF | IRQ | Mohammedi al-Khateeb |
| 22 | FW | GEO | Luka Robakidze |
| 23 | MF | GEO | Luka Lortkipanidze |
| 24 | FW | GEO | Giorgi Gogolashvili |
| 27 | MF | GEO | Beka Chankseliani |
| 29 | DF | GEO | Irakli Kamladze |
| 30 | MF | GEO | Lasha Kvaratskhelia |
| 31 | FW | GEO | Saba Jincharadze |
| 32 | FW | ESP | Mikel Abando |

## Managers

| Name | From | To |
| Aslan Baladze | August 2012 | October 2013 |
| Valerian Chkhartishvili | October 2013 | December 2013 |
| Besik Sherozia | January 2014 | August 2014 |
| Amiran Gogitidze | August 2014 | November 2014 |
| Kostyantin Frolov | November 2014 | February 2015 |
| Gela Sanaya | February 2015 | August 2015 |
| Temur Shalamberidze | September 2015 | September 2016 |
| Gia Guruli | September 2016 | May 2017 |
| Giorgi Shashiashvili | May 2017 | January 2018 |
| Giorgi Chelidze | January 2018 | April 2018 |
| Tengiz Kobiashvili | May 2018 | September 2019 |
| Giorgi Shashiashvili | September 2019 | December 2021 |
| Revaz Gotsiridze | January 2022 | January 2023 |
| Ucha Sosiashvili | January 2023 | June 2023 |
| Levan Jokhadze | July 2023 | August 2023 |
| Carlos González | September 2023 | October 2023 |
| Revaz Dzodzuashvili | October 2023 | |

## Honours

* Erovnuli Liga 2
** Winners (5): 1992–93, 2003–04, 2013–14, 2020, 2022

## Notable players

* Davit Khocholava,
** Later played for the likes of FC Copenhagen and Shakhtar Donetsk, as well as being a player for the Georgian national team. He played 29 matches for Shukura in 2014/15.

## Stadium

The Chele Arena, home ground to FC Shukura, is named after Revaz Chelebadze, the famous football player born in Kobuleti. It has the capacity of 6,000 seats. In 2023, a plan to build a new stadium with a capacity of 8,000 seats was unveiled.

## Other teams

Shukura have a reserve team, taking part in the Regionuli Liga tournament.

## Name

Shukura literally means a lighthouse, which is duly depicted on the club's emblem.