Mikheil Kavelashvili (Bolnisi, 7-22-1971) will not be remembered as one of the best foreigners in the history of the Premier. He can boast, however, of being the only Georgian to have scored in the Manchester derby.
Kavelashvili, as fate would have it, scored against United on his debut for City. It was April 6, 1996. Niall Quinn continued and the Georgian shot Schmeichel at close range to make it 1-1 in the 39th minute. It did not, however, prevent the victory of the ‘red devils’ (2-3) at Maine Road.
He didn’t leave much of a ‘mark’ in Manchester. He arrived, after paying 2 million euros, from Dinamo Tbilisi, was loaned to Grasshoppers and left for Zurich for free in 1999 with a poor record: he scored three goals in 29 games.
“Today is a historic day for Georgia!”
Outside of ‘green’ it has gone much further. “Today is a historic day for Georgia!” said Shalva Papuashvili, president of Parliament, to announce the appointment of the former international striker (46 matches, 9 goals) as the country’s new president last Saturday.
Mikheil Kavelashvili takes a selfie in Parliament after his election.LAPRESSE
“I am aware of the great responsibility that comes with assuming the office of President of Georgia. My love for my homeland and my country has no limits. I will do everything possible to unite society around our interests, our identity, our values and guarantee the independence of the nation,” said the former footballer from Alania Vladikavkaz, Lucerne, Sion, Aarau and Basel.
My love for my homeland and my country has no limits. I will do everything possible to unite society around our interests, our identity and our values
Mikheil Kavelashvili
The truth is that it has not generated much unity. Rather, the opposite. His appointment has sparked numerous protests after the opposition called the October 26 elections “illegitimate” and “unconstitutional.” “They are a parody that has no connection with any political process,” former president Salomé Zurabishvili publicly denounced.
Kavelashvili, to tell the truth, has not been directly chosen by the people. With the results in hand, Bidzina Ivanishvili, honorary president of ‘Georgian Dream’, proposed her candidacy and was ratified, for the first time in history, by an electoral college made up of 300 members of Parliament.
One of the numerous protests against the election of Kavelashvili.EFE
He was elected for the next five years by an overwhelming majority: 224 votes in favor… and one against. It has a ‘trap’: Kavelashvili was the only candidate for the presidency. It is not coincidental. The opposition did not present any alternative as a protest to boycott the election.
“He is the personification of the ideal Georgian. He is a devoted husband and a proud father of four children,” argues his great supporter, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
He is the epitome of the ideal Georgian. He is a devoted husband and proud father of four children.
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Pro-Russian, anti-Western and without higher education
The choice of the former City player promises to bring a lot of trouble. His critics accuse him of being populist, far-right and pro-Russian. “He is the most prominent anti-Western,” suggests Roman Gotsiridze, a member of the Georgian Parliament.
In fact, Kavelashvili formed his own party (People Power) in 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A formation that, in reality, is considered a right-wing anti-Western ‘Georgian Dream’ faction.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, smiling after his election as president of Georgia.EFE
Not only that. It is questioned that he does not have higher education. It’s curious. The lack of an educational qualification prevented him from running for president of the Georgian Football Federation in 2015, but it has not been a disadvantage in becoming president of Georgia.
“The president of UEFA, Michel Platini, does not have higher education either. It is a deliberate decision against me,” Kavelashvili lamented at the time.
Platini also has no higher education. It’s a deliberate decision against me
Mikheil Kavelashvili
“Love and loyalty to the homeland, as well as knowledge of basic skills, do not require a diploma,” says Mamuka Mdinaradze, a member of ‘Georgian Dream’ to defend the new boss.
Kavelashvili, Kaladze and Kobiashvili
Politics and football go hand in hand, especially in Georgia. The best-known case, due to media coverage, is the case of Kakha Kaladze. The ex-Milanista, who also belongs to ‘Georgian Dream’, has been mayor of Tbilisi since 2017. Previously, he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy.
On the left, Levan Kobiashvili, next to Infantino. On the right, Kakha Kaladze.
Another ‘well-known’ example is that of Levan Kobiashvili. The former Schalke player precisely won the elections for president of the Federation in 2015 over Kavelashvili. A position that he continues to hold and that he has combined, since 2016, with that of a member of Parliament, also as a member of ‘Georgian Dream’.
