Giorgi Mamardashvili (Order of Honor) (Georgian: გიორგი მამარდაშვილი; born 29 September 2000) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Valencia on loan from Premier League club Liverpool and the Georgia national team.
 Mamardashvili with Valencia in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 29 September 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Tbilisi, Georgia | ||
| Height | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Valencia (on loan from Liverpool) | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2012 | Gagra | ||
| 2012–2018 | Dinamo Tbilisi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | Dinamo Tbilisi | 0 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Rustavi (loan) | 28 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Locomotive Tbilisi (loan) | 29 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Valencia | 95 | (0) |
| 2024– | Liverpool | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Valencia (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | Georgia U17 | 1 | (0) |
| 2019–2023 | Georgia U21 | 7 | (0) |
| 2021– | Georgia | 21 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 August 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 June 2024 | |||
Mamardashvili spent much of his youth years at Dinamo Tbilisi. After signing a professional contract with this club, he was loaned to other Erovnuli Liga teams for three seasons before his transfer to Valencia. He has quickly established himself as a first-choice shot-stopper, becoming the first ever Georgian goalkeeper in the Spanish top tier.
Club career
Dinamo Tbilisi
Born in Tbilisi, Mamardashvili joined Dinamo Tbilisi's youth setup in 2012, from Gagra.[1] After featuring as an unused substitute in the first team for the most of the 2018 season, he was loaned to Rustavi for the 2019 campaign.
Loan to Rustavi
Mamardashvili made his senior debut on 2 March 2019, starting in a 4–1 away loss against Locomotive Tbilisi.[2] After contributing with 28 appearances and helping his side to avoid relegation, he made another loan move to Locomotive Tbilisi.
Loan to Locomotive Tbilisi
Mamardashvili was hailed during Locomotive's UEFA Europa League campaign in 2020. According to newspaper Marca, his performance against Granada drew attention from Spanish scouts.[3]
In late December, he received the Goalkeeper of the Year award from the Georgian Football Federation.[4]
In January 2021, he was named by UEFA as one of 50 young talents expected to shine in the future.[5]
Valencia
On 7 June 2021, Mamardashvili joined La Liga club Valencia on a one-year loan deal, with a buyout clause, and was initially assigned to the reserves in Tercera División RFEF.[6][7] He made the pre-season with the main squad, impressing manager José Bordalás[8] and earning himself the starting spot in the league opener against Getafe on 13 August, which ended 1–0 for Los Che.[9]
On 31 December 2021, Valencia confirmed the permanent signing of Mamardashvili on a contract until 2024, with an option for a further year.[10]
During that season, Mamardashvili participated in 18 league matches and kept eight clean sheets. He recorded 560 minutes in a row without conceding a goal.[11] He was twice included in La Liga's symbolic team of the week (Matchweeks 1 and 35). Additionally, he received the player of the match award on three occasions.[12] In May 2022, Marca named Mamardashvili in the La Liga's Discovery of the Season team.[13]
The next season Mamardashvili took part in all 38 league games without being substituted. He was selected in La Liga's team of the week three times.[14] Based on votes from Valencia fans, Mamardashvili was named the best player in 2023, while he had come 2nd behind Gonçalo Guedes the previous year.[15]
On 28 January 2024, Mamardashvili became part of club history. He broke the team record with his 60th consecutive appearance in La Liga as a starter.[16] Eventually, he played in 69 league matches in a row. Overall, during his third season at the club Mamardashvili continued to achieve impressive results, namely, improving his clean sheet record (13), saving the most penalties (3) along with Unai Simon and preventing the most goals in La Liga.[17]
Liverpool
On 27 August 2024, Valencia and Liverpool confirmed that Mamardashvili would be joining the Premier League club at the start of the 2025–26 season.[18][19]
International career
After making three appearances for the under-21 team, Mamardashvili made his debut for the senior Georgia national team in a 4–1 friendly defeat against Bulgaria on 8 September 2021.[20]
On 9 June 2022, he played his first official match in a 3–0 win over North Macedonia in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League.[21] For his performance in the return leg (2–0) in September, Mamardashvili was named in Team of the Week after round 5,[22][23] and whoscored.com included him in monthly and seasonal Best XI of League C.[24]
In the summer of 2023, Mamardashvili took part in three games in UEFA European Under-21 Championship for Georgia U21s, who had a highly successful group stage campaign and reached quarter-finals for the first time in their history.[25]
On 26 March 2024, Georgia defeated Greece 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out in the play-off final to qualify for UEFA Euro 2024, the nation's first ever major international tournament. Mamardashvili was a critical factor in this game, saving the first spot kick from Greek forward Anastasios Bakasetas.
Mamardashvili was selected by Georgia for the Euro 2024 finals in Germany.[26] He started in his side's first match in a major competition, a 3–1 loss against Turkey on 19 June.[27] After making eleven saves in the next game against the Czech Republic, Mamardashvili received the player of the match award.[28] Analytical sites such as Sofascore, Marca and 90min.com named him in the Team of match day 2, with the former awarding him the second highest aggregate rating point after Spanish midfielder Fabián Ruiz.[29][30][31] In the team's third Group F match, Mamardashvili kept a clean sheet against Portugal, as Georgia won 2–0 to qualify for the knockout stage.[32] He ended the group stage having made 20 saves, seven more than any other goalkeeper at the tournament.[33]
Personal life
Mamardashvili is the son of former WIT Georgia and Torpedo Kutaisi goalkeeper Davit Mamardashvili, who after retirement became a goalkeeping coach at Merani Martvili and later Torpedo Kutaisi.[34]
Mamardashvili started a relationship with model Elene Epitashvili in 2021. The couple married on 18 July 2024.[35][36]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 28 August 2024[37]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dinamo Tbilisi | 2018 | Erovnuli Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Rustavi (loan) | 2019 | Erovnuli Liga | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[a] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| Locomotive Tbilisi (loan) | 2020 | Erovnuli Liga | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| Total | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | ||
| Valencia | 2021–22 | La Liga | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 42 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 0 | ||||
| 2024–25[d] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 96 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 103 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 153 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 170 | 0 | ||
- ^ Appearance(s) in Erovnuli Liga relegation play-offs
- ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearance(s) in Supercopa de España
- ^ Part of this season was spent on loan from Liverpool
International
- As of match played 30 June 2024[38]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 21 | 0 | |
Honours
Dinamo Tbilisi
- Erovnuli Liga runner-up: 2018
Valencia
- Copa del Rey runner-up: 2021–22
Individual
- Goalkeeper of the Year in Georgia: 2020
References
- ^ "გაგრელი მწვრთნელის ხსოვნას ტურნირი მიეძღვნა" [The tournament was dedicated to the memory of Gagreli coach]. worldsport.ge (in Georgian). 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "LOKOMOTIVI TBILISI VS. RUSTAVI 4 - 1". Global Sports Media. Soccerway. 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "MARCA: მამარდაშვილმა ესპანელების ყურადღება "გრანადასთან" მატჩში მიიპყრო". crystalsport.ge (in Georgian). 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "საუკეთესო მოთამაშეები პოზიციების მიხედვითაც გაირკვა". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 28 December 2020. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "50 for the future: UEFA.com's ones to watch for 2021". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "VCF Academy reaches agreement for the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili". Valencia CF. 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Mamardashvili ya está en València" [Mamardashvili is already in Valencia]. Super Deporte (in Spanish). 3 July 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Mamardashvili se hace gigante" [Mamardashvili grows big]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Bordalás y Mamardashvili se divierten en la locura de Mestalla" [Bordalás and Mamardashvili enjoy themselves in the madness of Mestalla]. Marca (in Spanish). 13 August 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Comunicado oficial | Giorgi Mamardashvili" [Official statement | Giorgi Mamardashvili] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "მშრალი სერია 560-ე წუთზე შეწყდა - მამარდაშვილმა ესპანეთში მორიგი ტოპ-მატჩი ჩაატარა". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 12 April 2022. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "სეზონში მეორედ: გიორგი მამარდაშვილი ტურის საუკეთესო მეკარედ დასახელდა". sport4me.ge (in Georgian). 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "მამარდაშვილი სეზონის აღმოჩენათა გუნდში დასახელდა". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "მამარდაშვილი მესამედ გახდა ესპანეთში ტურის საუკეთესო მეკარე". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ "Los oyentes votan a Giorgi Mamardashvili como ganador del Trofeo Jugador 99.9 Plaza Radio 2022-2023" (in Spanish). Valenciaplaza. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "MAMARDASHVILI BEATS A RECORD AT VALENCIA CF". valenciacf.com. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "MAMARDASHVILI, EL MEJOR PORTERO DE LALIGA EA SPORTS 23-24 [MAMARDASHVILI, THE BEST GOALKEEPER IN LALIGA EA SPORTS 23-24]". Valencia CF (in Spanish). Valencia CF.
- ^ "Liverpool agree deal to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili". Liverpool F.C. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Comunicado Oficial | Giorgi Mamardashvili" (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Mamardashvili derriba otro muro con dolor: Goleada en su debut" [Mamardashvili's painful achievement: concedes several on his debut]. ElDesmarque.com (in Spanish). 9 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
- ^ "North Macedonia vs Georgia (Match Report)". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "UEFA Nations League statistics". sofascore.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Nations League statistics". fotmob.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE C". whoscored.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Georgia vs Israel". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "Georgia's Euro 24 squad". euronewsgeorgia.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "TURKEY 3–1 GEORGIA: ARDA GULER NETS LONG-RANGE STUNNER TO LEAD TURKEY TO ENTERTAINING EURO 2024 WIN". eurosport.com. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "The numbers behind Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili's incredible Euro-2024 performance against Czechia". football-espana.net. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Euro 2024 team of the round: Matchday 2". 90min.com. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Euro 2024: Starting XI of 2nd round". sport.news.am. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Euro 2024 Top Players". sofascore.com. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Georgia vs Portugal". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Statistics that shaped the Euro 2024 group stage". Optus Sport. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "კახა ჩხეტიანი: მარტვილის "მერანს" ზამთარში გავაძლიერებთ". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 15 October 2013. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "წმ. ილია წინასწარმეტყველის სახელობის ტაძარი გიორგი მამარდაშვილის ჯვრისწერის შესახებ ინფორმაციას ავრცელებს". primetime.ge (in Georgian). 19 July 2024.
- ^ "გიორგი მამარდაშვილისა და მისი მეუღლის მხიარული ერთობლივი ვიდეო". fortuna.ge (in Georgian). 29 September 2023.
- ^ Giorgi Mamardashvili at Soccerway
- ^ "Giorgi Mamardashvili". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
External links
- Profile at the Valencia CF website
- Giorgi Mamardashvili – UEFA competition record (archive)