Giorgi Gakhokidze

Giorgi Gakhokidze (Georgian: გიორგი გახოკიძე; born 5 November 1975 in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR) is a former Georgian footballer. He played for clubs like PSV Eindhoven, Maccabi Haifa, FC Twente and Metalurh Donetsk. Between 1996 and 2006 he was also a member of the Georgian national team.

Early career

He started his career at Metalurgi Rustavi before moving to Georgian top club FC Dinamo Tbilisi, but did not play any matches and moved to FC Kolkheti-1913 Poti and later to Spartak-Alania Vladikavkaz, to play in the Russian league. Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven showed interest in the player and brought him into the Netherlands. In his first season he was unable to gain himself a spot in the first team and was sent on a loan deal with Maccabi Haifa F.C. where he developed himself into a better player.

Breakthrough and downfall

Back at PSV he still struggled to play a decent amount of matches, but in the 2001-02 season things changed. Gakhokidze played in 25 of PSV's 34 matches that season. However, mainly due to injuries he only got a total of eight matches in the following season. Recovered from the injuries he moved to FC Twente and had a good season with a lot of match rhythm and some goals as well.

Gakhokidze felt the need to return to the eastern part of Europe and switched to Ukraine based Metalurg Donetsk. At this team however he only came to a total of two matches, while at his following team FC Krylya Sovetov Samara he did not play at all. His former team FC Twente decided to contract him again, but injuries forced him to set back most of the time and he only came to 19 appearances from 2005 to the end of 2006. On 29 December 2006 Gakhokidze decided to terminate his contract and end his career at the age of 31.

Besides his club appearances Gakhokidze also played in 21 matches for the Georgian national team, and scored 3 goals.