Biography
Who is Jaba Kankava?
Early Life and Beginnings
Jaba Kankava was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, on March 18, 1986. Growing up in Georgia, he began playing football at a very young age. At age six, in 1992, he joined Vake 91 and trained under manager Guram Chomakhidze for eight years.
At the age of fourteen, Jaba Kankava moved to FC Dinamo Tbilisi to continue his youth development. By 2004, he started his professional football career with Dinamo Tbilisi under head coach Gia Geguchadze, who built a squad centered around young players.
Club Career Highlights
During his first year as a professional, Jaba Kankava won the Georgian Cup with Dinamo Tbilisi and scored the winning goal against Slavia Prague in the UEFA Europa League. Following his time at Dinamo Tbilisi, he played for clubs including FC Alania Vladikavkaz and FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih.
In 2007, Jaba Kankava signed with Dnipro, where he spent eight years and played 91 matches. He reached the UEFA Europa League final with Dnipro in 2015 before transferring to the French club Stade Reims in a deal worth €1.5 million. He later played for FC Tobol, Valenciennes, and Slovan Bratislava, winning three Slovak First Football League titles with Slovan Bratislava.
International Career
Jaba Kankava made his debut for the Georgia national football team on September 8, 2004, in a match against Albania during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. He later scored goals in qualification matches against Croatia and Germany.
From August 2012 until October 2021, Jaba Kankava served as the captain of the national team, leading the squad in 62 matches. He announced his retirement from international football in January 2022 after earning 100 caps, though he later returned to help the team in qualifiers.
Personal Life and Physical Details
Jaba Kankava stands at a height of 176 centimeters. Throughout his career, he has been recognized multiple times for his athletic achievements, including being named Georgian Footballer of the Year twice.
In March 2014, Jaba Kankava gained widespread attention for saving the life of Dynamo Kyiv captain Oleh Husyev during a match by clearing his blocked airway after a collision. For this action, he was awarded the Order of Merit.
Birthday and age
Jaba Kankava was born on March 18, 1986, which makes Jaba 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Jaba shares the date with 48 other famous people.
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