Temur Ketsbaia

Temur Ketsbaia is a Georgian professional football manager and former player with a career spanning decades across top European leagues and international management, known for his impactful performances as a midfielder and his subsequent achievements as a coach. After helping Newcastle United qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in club history in 1997, Temur Ketsbaia established a formidable European football career. His playing career began in 1986 with Georgian clubs Dinamo Sokhumi and Dinamo Tbilisi. In 1994, Ketsbaia joined Greek champions AEK Athens for three seasons, instrumental in securing two Greek Cups (1995–96, 1996–97) and the Greek Super Cup (1996).

He returned to Anorthosis for a second playing stint (2002-2007), making 100 appearances and scoring 39 goals before retiring as a player. Ketsbaia transitioned into his first managerial role with Anorthosis in 2004, while still an active player. He led the club to unprecedented success, capturing two Cypriot First Division titles (2004–05, 2007–08) and a Cypriot Cup (2006–07). Most notably, he guided Anorthosis to the UEFA Champions League Group Stage in 2008–09, marking a historic first for any Cypriot team.

His managerial journey continued with Olympiacos in 2009, then a five-year tenure as manager of the Georgian national team (2009-2014), a team he had extensively represented as a player. Club management continued with APOEL FC (2015–2016), AEK Athens (2016), and FC Orenburg (2017). He returned to Anorthosis for a second managerial spell (2019-2022), securing another Cypriot Cup title in 2020–21 and cementing his profound impact on the club. From 2022 to 2024, Ketsbaia managed the Cyprus national team, demonstrating his continued international influence.

In 2025, Ketsbaia returns to Anorthosis for a third managerial term, underscoring his enduring connection and proven ability to deliver significant achievements across his playing and coaching careers.