There are few Georgian players as celebrated as Shota Arveladze. The former professional player enjoyed a career that spun across 18 years, and has continued to be a focal point in the game in this modern era after transitioning into management since retiring in 2008.
Early Career
Arveladze kickstarted his career with a spell at Dinamo Tbilisi between 1987 and 1990. His professional debut came during a time with Martve Tbilisi, where he played for a season. It was clear from this year that he was a striker with a proven pedigree to score goals at the top level, as he struck 33 goals in 30 games. The following season he made his league debut with Dinamo Tbilisi, where he would enjoy an incredible three years.
His debut season in the Umaglesi Liga was an overwhelming success as he scored 22 goals in 30 league games. His stay with Tbilisi also resulted in an incredible amount of success on the pitch, as the Georgian side won four domestic titles, and the Georgian Cup on four occasions. During his stay with the club, he made a total of 67 appearances and scored 51 goals. However, the big move of his career would come in 1995, as he signed for Turkish giants Trabzonspor on a permanent deal.
Trabzonspor
In the 1993-94 season, Arveladze signed on loan for Trabzonspor. His debut season in the Super Lig was a massive success, and he immediately became a fan favourite after scoring 15 goals in 18 games. That initial impact caught the eye of the hierarchy, as they made an official move for the striker, as he signed on a permanent deal in 1994. His debut season as a permanent player at the club was a massive success, as Trabzonspor won the Turkish Cup.
Arveladze scored 18 goals in 23 games in all competitions that season, including six in six in the cup competition. His best scoring season came in the following year, as he netted 25 goals in 34 league fixtures, and also scored in Europe for the first time for the Turkish giants. Arveladze’s final season with Trabzonspor came in 1996-97, as he once again proved to be one of the most prolific strikers in Turkey, scoring 16 goals in 37 games in all competitions.
Ajax
His successful spell in Turkey eventually led to a move to Dutch giants Ajax in the summer of 1997. It was a massive move for the Georgian international, and he immediately looked to make a positive impression. In his first season with the club, he scored an incredible 37 goals in 44 games, which included seven in eight games in the UEFA Cup, before Ajax was eliminated by Spartak Moscow.
In his first season with the club, Ajax won both the domestic title and KNVB Cup, before retaining the latter in the 1998-99 season. However, Arveladze struggled following that first positive season, as he scored a high of 18 in the 2000-01 season, but the club was unable to regain the domestic title. His spell in the Netherlands was eventually brought to an end in the 2001-02 season, as he signed for Scottish giants, the Rangers.
Rangers
The most successful spell of his career in the top leagues in Europe came during his four seasons with the Rangers. Arveladze would be part of the title-winning side on two occasions during that stay, and also got his hands on the Scottish Cup on two occasions, and the Scottish League Cup in 2002-03. In that same season, he was part of the famous Gers team that would win the domestic treble.
Arveladze was a vital part of the team in that season, as he scored 16 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions. That was his best scoring season for Rangers, but would leave the club at the conclusion of a trophy-less season in 2004-05.
Later Career
At the conclusion of the 2004-05 season, Arveladze moved back to the Netherlands, and enjoyed two fine seasons with AZ. His performances during those two years showed that he was still one of the most talented Georgian players, as he scored 36 goals in 60 league fixtures, and 48 in 89 in all competitions. The final move of his career came in 2007-08, as he signed for La Liga side Levante, but he failed to register a goal in four appearances.
Since retiring in 2008, Arveladze made an immediate move into management with Kayserispor. He also spent a short time with Trabzonspor, but was fired four months into his tenure. His most successful spell came between June 2017 and December 2020 with Pakhtakor, as he won the Uzbekistan Super League on two occasions. He departed the club to take over at Championship side Hull City.
About the Author Gia Janashvili
Gia is an experienced sports writer, and follows huge events from around the world. He follows Georgian soccer and players with a passion, and looks to tell the stories of some of the all-time greats.
