FC Sioni Bolnisi

{{Infobox football club | clubname = Sioni Bolnisi| image = FC Sioni Bolnisi.jpg | upright = 0.9 | fullname = Football Club Sioni Bolnisi | nickname = | founded = {{Start date and age|1936}} | ground = Tamaz Stepania Stadium, Bolnisi | capacity = 3,000 | chairman = Levan Silagadze | manager = Ucha Sosiashvili| league = Erovnuli Liga 2 | season = 2025 | position = Erovnuli Liga 2, 5th of 10 | website = {{URL|fcsioni.ge/}} | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_jomagrafity2b|pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=000000|body1=000000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000| pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_jomagrafity2y|pattern_ra2=| leftarm2=FFFF00|body2=FFFF00|rightarm2=FFFF00|shorts2=FFFF00|socks2=FFFF00| }}

'''FC Sioni''' (''Georgian:'' საფეხბურთო კლუბი სიონი) is a Georgian professional football club based in Bolnisi. They compete in Erovnuli Liga Liga 2, the second tier of the Georgian league system.

The team has won the league title on one occasion, in 2005/06. Sioni play their home matches at local stadium named after Tamaz Stepania.

==History== The football club in Bolnisi was founded in 1936. For years they took part in Georgian domestic competitions under the name ''Madneuli''. While being in the second division in early 1990s, the team emerged among the candidates challenging for the top league.

For the first time Sioni participated in Umaglesi Liga in the 1995/96 season and after initial several years made significant progress towards joining ambitious clubs vying for titles.

In 2002, they reached the Cup final, although failed to prevail over Dinamo Tbilisi.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Cup final of 2001/02 (in Georgian) |url=http://msy.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=GEO&sec_id=609 |website=msy.gov.ge}}</ref>

In the 2003/04 season, Sioni and WIT Georgia shared the first position in the league, and the title was decided in a championship play-off. WIT won the game 2–0, but a crowd violence during the match led UEFA to ban Sioni from the UEFA Cup participation.<ref name="no_uefa">{{cite web | author-link = Reuters | title = UEFA Cup ban for Georgian club Sioni | publisher = ESPNsoccernet | date = 2004-06-01 | url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=302080&cc=5739 | access-date = 2008-07-30 | archive-date = 2012-02-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120204145428/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=302080&cc=5739 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The third attempt two years later turned out successful. The club set a remarkable unbeaten home record by winning 14 games out of 15 and ended the season five points clear of a main rival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Umaglesi Liga, 2005-06 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/geor06.html |website=RSSSF}}</ref> Kakha Tskhadadze became Manager of the Year, while striker Koka Mikuchadze, who scored 19 goals, was named in the symbolic team of the season. Sioni represented Georgia in the UEFA Champions League 2006-07, where they defeated FK Baku from Azerbaijan in the first qualifying round,<ref name="1ucl06-07"> {{cite web | title = UEFA Champions League History, Season 2006–2007, First qualifying round | publisher = uefa.com | date = 2008-07-03 | url = http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2006/round=2354/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070712160154/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2006/round=2354/index.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = July 12, 2007 | access-date = 2008-07-30 }}</ref> but were eliminated by Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia in the second stage, losing 2–0 both home and away.<ref name="2ucl06-07"> {{cite web | title = UEFA Champions League History, Season 2006–2007, Second qualifying round | publisher = uefa.com | date = 2008-07-03 | url = http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2006/round=2355/index.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20070713025206/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2006/round=2355/index.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = July 13, 2007 | access-date = 2008-07-30 }}</ref> thumb|Old Logo As champions, in January 2007 Sioni participated in the CIS Cup in Moscow where they defeated two opponents out of three, although failed to qualify for the play-offs on goal difference.<ref>{{cite web |title=CIS tournament 2007 |url=http://wildstat.com/p/59/ch/RUS_CISC_2007/stg/all/tour/all/club1/GEO_Sioni_Bolnisi |publisher=wildstat.com}}</ref>

Sioni achieved another league success in 2013/14. Under Vladimir Burduli the club, strengthened by some experienced players, including former national team members Valeri Abramidze and Revaz Kemoklidze, won the bronze medals. Two years later Sioni played in the national Cup final for the second time in fifteen years.<ref>{{cite web |title=თბილისის "დინამომ" საქართველოს თასი მოიპოვა |url=https://sportall.ge/fexburti/qarthuli-fekhburthi/thasi/91935-thbilisis-qdinamomq-saqarthvelos-thasi-moipova.html |website=sportall.ge |date=18 May 2016 |language=KA}}</ref> Soon their performance deteriorated, which saw the team relegated to Liga 2 for the first time in the last two decades.<ref>{{cite web |title=სიონი" ამ საუკუნეში პირველად გავარდა |url=https://www.worldsport.ge/ge/page/147835_sioni-am-saukuneshi-pirvelad-gavarda |website=worldsport.ge (in Georgian) |date=6 December 2016}}</ref>

Following a two-year tenure in the second division, Sioni secured another promotion in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=ბოლნისის "სიონი" ეროვნული ლიგა 2-ის გამარჯვებულია |url=https://gazetibolnisi.ge/%e1%83%91%e1%83%9d%e1%83%9a%e1%83%9c%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%a1%e1%83%98%e1%83%9d%e1%83%9c%e1%83%98-%e1%83%94%e1%83%a0%e1%83%9d%e1%83%95%e1%83%9c%e1%83%a3%e1%83%9a%e1%83%98/ |website=gazetibolnisi.ge (in Georgian), 27 November 2021}}</ref> The team topped the league from the very beginning and, although slipped up in midseason which resulted in the sacking of the manager, eventually they comfortably won the championship contest.<ref>{{cite news |title=სიონი ეროვნულ ლიგაში დაბრუნდა |url=https://api.leadersport.ge/%e1%83%a1%e1%83%98%e1%83%9d%e1%83%9c%e1%83%98-%e1%83%94%e1%83%a0%e1%83%9d%e1%83%95%e1%83%9c%e1%83%a3%e1%83%9a-%e1%83%9a%e1%83%98%e1%83%92%e1%83%90%e1%83%a8%e1%83%98-%e1%83%93%e1%83%90%e1%83%91/ |access-date=3 December 2021 |website=leadersport.ge (in Georgian), 27 November 2021}}</ref>

Sioni spent the entire 2022 season in battles to move out of the drop zone. Due to poor results, the club twice replaced managers during the year. At the end of the season, they lost both play-off ties to Samtredia and suffered a third relegation in seven seasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=სამტრედია" ეროვნულ ლიგაში დაბრუნდა, "სიონი" ლიგა 2-ში გავარდა |url=https://1tv.ge/news/samtredia-erovnul-ligashi-dabrunda-sioni-liga-2-shi-gavarda-video-1tvsport/ |website=1tv.ge (in Georgian) |date=11 December 2022}}</ref>

==Seasons== ===Domestic leagues=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |+ |- ! Season !! League!! Pos !! Top scorers!!Goals !! Cup |- | 1990|| 2nd || '''14'''_/20|| || ||Round of 16 |- | 1991|| 2nd||bgcolor=LimeGreen|'''18'''_/18{{down-arrow}}|| || ||Quarterfinals |- | 1991/92|| 3rd|| bgcolor=Gold|{{up-arrow}}|| || ||― |- | 1992/93|| 2nd || '''5'''_/16|| || || Round of 16 |- | 1993/94|| 2nd, East || '''12'''_/18|| || || ― |- | 1994/95|| 2nd, East ||bgcolor=Gold |'''1'''_/16{{up-arrow}}|| || ||1st round |- | 1995/96|| 1st || '''9'''_/16|| || ||Round of 16 |- | 1996/97 || 1st|| '''9'''_/16|| || ||Quarterfinals |- | 1997/98|| 1st|| '''13'''_/16|| || ||Round of 16 |- | 1998/99|| 1st|| '''13'''_/16|| || ||Round of 16 |- | 1999/2000 ||1st||'''6'''_/16|| || ||2nd round |- | 2000/01 || 1st|| '''8'''_/12|| || ||Round of 16 |- | 2001/02 || 1st|| '''8'''_/12|| Shalva Isiani ||12 ||Round of 16 |- | 2002/03 || 1st||'''5'''_/12|| Levan Shavgulidze ||11 ||bgcolor=Silver|Runners-up |- | 2003/04 || 1st||bgcolor=Silver|'''2'''_/12|| Boris Goncharov||17 ||Round of 16 |- | 2004/05 || 1st||'''7'''_/10||Davit Gogoladze ||8 ||Round of 16 |- |bgcolor=Gold| 2005/06 ||bgcolor=Gold| 1st||bgcolor=Gold|'''1'''_/16||Akaki Mikuchadze ||19||Semifinals |- | 2006/07 || 1st||'''6'''_/14|| || ||Semifinals |- | 2007/08 || 1st||'''8'''_/14|| || ||1st round |- | 2008/09 || 1st||'''5'''_/11|| || ||Quarterfinals |- | 2009/10 || 1st||'''6'''_/10|| Aleksandre Gogoberishvili || 6||Round of 16 |- | 2010/11 || 1st||'''8'''_/10|| Revaz Gotsiridze || 7|| Quarterfinals |- | 2011/12 || 1st||'''12'''_/12|| Giorgi Kutsurua || 4||Round of 16 |- | 2012/13 || 1st||'''10'''_/12|| Giorgi Kakhelishvili, Valeri <br />Abramidze, Lado Akhalaia || 4 || Semifinals |- | 2013/14 || 1st||bgcolor=#F1A33F|'''3'''_/12|| Rezo Jikia || 6||Quarterfinals |- | 2014/15 || 1st||'''13'''_/16|| Data Sitchinava || 11||2nd round |- | 2015/16 || 1st||'''5'''_/16|| Dimitri Tatanashvili || 11||bgcolor=Silver|Runners-up |- | 2016 || 1st||bgcolor=LimeGreen|'''6'''_/14{{down-arrow}}{{efn|Lost to Pirveli Liga side Shukura 4–5 on aggregate in relegation play-offs}}|| Davit Volkovi || 6 ||2nd round |- | 2017 || 2nd||bgcolor=#F1A33F|'''3'''_/10{{up-arrow}}{{efn|Beat Dinamo Batumi on penalties in promotion play-offs}}|| Jaba Dvali || 21 ||Round of 16 |- | 2018 || 1st||'''8'''_/10{{efn|Beat Gagra 4–0 on aggregate in relegation play-offs}}|| Davit Kirkitadze || 6||3rd round |- | 2019|| 1st||bgcolor=LimeGreen|'''9'''_/10{{down-arrow}}{{efn|Beaten by Samtredia 4–1 on aggregate in relegation play-offs}}|| Jaba Ugulava || 9||Round of 16 |- | 2020 || 2nd||'''7'''_/10|| Zviad Sikharulia || 4||2nd Round |- | 2021 || 2nd||bgcolor=Gold|'''1'''_/10{{up-arrow}}|| Data Sitchinava || 20 ||Round of 16 |- | 2022 || 1st||bgcolor=LimeGreen|'''8'''_/10{{down-arrow}}{{efn|Lost to Samtredia 3–0 on aggregate in relegation play-offs}} ||Nika Khorkheli ||9 || Round of 32 |- | 2023 || 2nd||'''4'''_/10||Vano Khabelashvili<br /> Gocha Tsirdava||9||Round of 16 |- | 2024 || 2nd||bgcolor=#F1A33F|'''3'''_/10{{efn|Lost promotion playoffs to Gagra on penalties}} ||Data Sitchinava||21||3rd round |- | 2025 || 2nd||'''5'''_/10 ||Data Sitchinava||20||Round of 16 |}

===Notes=== {{Notelist}}

===Overall===

Seasons spent in Georgian leagues since 1990:

● Umaglesi Liga / Erovnuli Liga (1st tier): '''25'''

● Pirveli Liga / Erovnuli Liga 2 (2nd tier): '''12'''

● Meore Liga (3rd tier): '''1'''

''Correct up to 2026 season''

===European football=== {| class="wikitable" ! Season ! Competition ! Round ! Club ! Home ! Away |- | 2003–04 | UEFA Cup | QR | {{flagicon|Slovakia}} FK Púchov | style="text-align: center;"| '''0–3''' | style="text-align: center;"| 0–3 |- | rowspan="2"| 2006–07 | rowspan="2"| UEFA Champions League | 1Q | {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} FC Baku | style="text-align: center;"| '''2–0''' | style="text-align: center;"| 0–1 |- | 2Q | {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} PFC Levski Sofia | style="text-align: center;"| '''0–2''' | style="text-align: center;"| 0–2 |- | rowspan="1"| 2014–15 | rowspan="1"| UEFA Europa League | 1Q | {{flagicon|Albania}} Flamurtari | style="text-align: center;"| '''2–3''' | style="text-align: center;"| 2–1 |- |}

== Current squad == ''As of 17 March 2026''<ref>{{cite web |title=Sioni squad in 2026 |url=https://erovnuliliga.ge/ge/club/sioni/squad |website=erovnuliliga.ge}}</ref>

{{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1|nat=GEO|pos=GK|name=Beka Kurdadze}} {{Fs player|no= 2|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Giorgi Gaprindashvili}} {{Fs player|no= 3|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Tornike Dundua}} {{Fs player|no= 4|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Tornike Mindiashvili-Imerlishvili}} {{Fs player|no= 6|nat=BIH|pos=MF|name=Adam Huskic}} {{Fs player|no= 7|nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Luka Gegeshidze}}{{Fs player|no= 8|nat=GHA|pos=MF|name=Blessing Kwame Assamoa}} {{Fs player|no= 9|nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Sergo Kukhianidze}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Kuji Beselia}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Bantu Mzwakali}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Dachi Tsnobiladze}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Giorgi Kakulia}}{{Fs player|no=16|nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Giorgi Ubilava}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Tornike Guliashvili}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=Rezo Gazdeliani}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Aleksandre Cholokava}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Giorgi Jeladze}}{{Fs player|no=22|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Shota Pantsulaia}}{{Fs player|no=24|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Rati Mchedlishvili}} {{Fs player|no=25|nat=GEO|pos=DF|name=Varlam Kilasonia}} {{Fs player|no=32|nat=GEO|pos=GK|name=Luka Avaliani}} {{Fs end}}

==Managers== {{div col|colwidth=28em}} *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Kakha Tskhadadze (Dec 31, 2005&nbsp;– Aug 31, 2006) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Kipshidze (Jul 1, 2007&nbsp;– Jun 30, 2008) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Otar Korgalidze (Jul 1, 2008&nbsp;– Jun 30, 2009) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Temur Makharadze (Jul 1, 2008&nbsp;– Jun 30, 2010) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Kipshidze (Jul 1, 2010&nbsp;– Mar 19, 2011) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Khvicha Kasrashvili (Mar 18, 2011–1?) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Vakhtang Chagelishvili (Jul 1, 2011–1?) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Levan Bajelidze (Sept 15, 2011&nbsp;– Jan 12, 2012) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Khvicha Kasrashvili (Jan 15 – Aug 27, 2012) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Armaz Jeladze (Aug 28, 2012&nbsp;– Jun 1, 2013) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Kiknadze (Jun 1, 2013–Oct, 2013) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Vladimir Burduli (Oct, 2013–) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Koba Zhorzhikashvili (2017–2018) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Teimuraz Shalamberidze (2018–2019) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Davit Kokiashvili (February - July 2020) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Varlam Kilasonia (July 2020 - June 2021) *{{flagicon|Georgia}}{{flagicon|Israel}} Giorgi Daraselia (June 2021 - March 2022) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Ucha Sosiashvili (March - November 2022) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Chelidze (November - December 2022) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Koba Zhorzhikashvili (February - June 2023) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Okropiridze (June 2023 - March 2024) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Devdariani (March – June 2024) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Gaga Kirkitadze (June – September 2024) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Chelidze (October 2024 – May 2025) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Varlam Kilasonia (May - December 2025) *{{flagicon|Georgia}} Ucha Sosiashvili (since January 2026) {{div col end}}

==Honours== *'''Umaglesi Liga/Erovnuli Liga''' ** Winners (1): 2005–06 ** Runners-up (1): 2003-04 ** Third place (1): 2013-14 *'''Pirveli Liga/Erovnuli Liga 2''' ** Winners (2): 1994–95 ''{{small|(East)}}'', 2021 ** Third place (2): 2017, 2024 *'''Georgian Cup''' ** Runners-up (2): 2002-03, 2015-16

==Sponsors== Rich Metals Group, engaged in mining activities near Bolnisi, signed a first sponsorship contract with Sioni in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=ბოლნისის "სიონს" კომპანია RMG დააფინანსებს |url=https://www.worldsport.ge/ge/page/145327_bolnisis-sions-kompania-rmg-daafinansebs |website=worldsport.com |date=3 October 2016}}</ref>

== Name == While ''Sioni'' is a Georgian equivalent of ''Zion'', the football club is named after Bolnisi Sioni, the fifth century cathedral located near the current municipal centre.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{official website|http://fcsioni.ge/}} * {{facebook|FCSIONIBolnisi}} * [https://www.flashscore.ge/team/bolnisi/U7p9spIF/results/ FC Bolnisi Results] on Flashscore * [https://int.soccerway.com/teams/georgia/fc-sioni-bolnisi/949/ Team profile] on Soccerway

{{Erovnuli Liga 2 teamlist}} {{Erovnuli Liga teamlist}}

Category:FC Sioni Bolnisi Sioni Bolnisi Category:Association football clubs established in 1936 Category:1936 establishments in Georgia (country) FC Sioni Bolnisi