One To Watch
Ligue 1's Georgian connection down the years
Georges Mikautadze (Olympique Lyonnais) - 39 matches in Ligue 1
He was one of the stars of UEFA Euro 2024 with his six goals leading him to the joint-golden boot, but we've known Mikautadze in French football since his days in Ligue 2 BKT. Top scorer and player of the season in the 2022-2023 season, the Georgian would go on to shine in Ligue 1 in between a stint at Dutch side AFC Ajax. With Metz, he scored 38 goals in 64 games before joining Olympique Lyonnais this summer. So far with Les Gones Mikautadze has played in 17 matches and scored four goals in all competitions.
Zuriko Davitashvili (Saint-Étienne) - 16 matches in Ligue 1
The Former Girondins de Bordeaux man joined Saint-Étienne this summer after two seasons of Ligue 2 BKT football where he stood out as clearly one of the best players in the division. Since joining Sainté this season he has translated those performances to the top tier. In 16 games the 23-year-old has scored six goals and registered two assists so far this season.
Jaba Kankava (Stade de Reims) - 27 matches in Ligue 1
After playing much of his career in Russia and Ukraine, Kankava opted to move to Stade de Reims in 2015 where he was known as a hard-hitting enforcer in midfield. In 48 appearances in Ligue 2 BKT and Ligue 1 McDonald's, he earned 19 bookings.
Gia Guruli - (Havre Athletic Club) - 48 matches in Ligue 1
After playing for Dinamo Tbilisi under the Soviet Union, Guruli would make the move westwards after the fall of the Berlin wall, playing for Le Havre near the end of his career. The four-time Georgian international played 107 games in total in Ligue 2 BKT and Ligue 1 McDonald's, scoring 17 goals for Le Havre and Dunkerque in that time before moving to RUFC Calais in the lower divisions.
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