Biography
Who is Georgi Kinkladze?
Early life and background
Georgi Kinkladze was born in the city of Tbilisi, which is the capital of Georgia. During his childhood, he lived in the Didube district. His father, Robinzon, worked as an engineer and encouraged his son to pursue football. His mother, Khatuna, was a teacher who taught him traditional Georgian ballet known as mtiuluri.
His development in football began at a very young age. When he was six years old, he joined the junior squad for Dinamo Tbilisi. He spent his youth playing for various teams within the Dinamo Tbilisi system, eventually reaching their reserve side. This early training prepared him for a professional career in the Georgian league system.
Professional football career
The professional path of Georgi Kinkladze started with Mretebi Tbilisi, which was the first openly professional club in the Soviet Union. He made his debut at the age of 16 and became a regular starter. In 1991, his team won the Pirveli Liga and earned promotion to the highest division.
Following his time at Mretebi, he signed with Dinamo Tbilisi for one million roubles. During his tenure there, the club secured a league and cup double. He also earned two national player of the year titles while playing in Georgia. In 1993, he went on loan to 1. FC Saarbrücken in Germany to find a more stable environment during the Georgian Civil War.
Success at Manchester City
Georgi Kinkladze moved to the English Premier League in 1995 when he signed for Manchester City. He became a highly popular figure among the supporters due to his dribbling and scoring ability. He was named the club's Player of the Year for two consecutive seasons during his stay in England.
Even when the club faced relegation to the First Division in 1996, he chose to remain with the team. He was known for his ability to score spectacular goals, including a famous chip against Southampton. His performances made him a significant figure in the club's history during the mid-1990s.
Later clubs and retirement
After leaving Manchester City, he joined the Dutch side Ajax in 1998. He later returned to England to play for Derby County, where he made nearly 100 appearances over four years. His time at Derby County saw him become a key part of the squad during his tenure in the early 2000s.
In 2004, he moved to the Cypriot club Anorthosis and won a league championship medal. Georgi Kinkladze eventually finished his professional playing career in 2006 while playing for the Russian club Rubin Kazan. His career spanned several different European leagues and various levels of competition.
Birthday and age
Georgi Kinkladze was born on July 6, 1973, which makes Georgi 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Georgi shares the date with 42 other famous people.
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