Erovnuli Liga

{{Short description|Georgian national top division professional association football league}} {{Use American English|date=August 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox football league | logo = Erovnuli Liga Logo.svg | pixels = 150px | country = Georgia | confed = UEFA | founded = {{Start date and age|1990}} | teams = 10 | relegation = Erovnuli Liga 2 | levels = 1 | domest_cup = Georgian Cup Georgian Super Cup | confed_cup = UEFA Champions League UEFA Conference League | champions = Iberia 1999 (3rd title) | season = 2025 | most successful club = Dinamo Tbilisi (19 titles) | website = {{URL|http://erovnuliliga.ge/en|erovnuliliga.ge}} | current = 2026 Erovnuli Liga }}

The '''Erovnuli Liga''' ({{lang-ka|ეროვნული ლიგა}}; {{lit|National League}}) is the top division of professional top tier football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union. From 2017, the Erovnuli Liga switched to a spring-autumn system, with only 10 clubs in the top flight.

== History and format evolution ==

The '''Erovnuli Liga''' ({{lang-ka|ეროვნული ლიგა}}) is the highest division of Georgian football, established in 1990 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Prior to that, Georgian clubs competed within the Soviet league system and the Georgian SSR Championship (1927–1989).

Originally called the '''Umaglesi Liga''' ({{lang-ka|უმაღლესი ლიგა}}, "Supreme League"), the league adopted the name '''Erovnuli Liga''' ("National League") after a rebranding in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gff.ge/en/media/news/17982 |title=Erovnuli Liga rebranded |publisher=GFF |access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the number of participating teams fluctuated widely: - 1990s: Between 16 and 20 clubs - Early 2000s: Reduced to 10–12 clubs for quality stabilization - 2017 onward: Fixed at 10 clubs

Originally operating on a traditional autumn–spring schedule, the league shifted to a spring–autumn calendar in 2017, aligning with many Nordic and Eastern European competitions. The switch was intended to avoid harsh winter interruptions and better synchronize with UEFA club competition calendars.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gff.ge/en/media/news/19115 |title=GFF confirms new league calendar |publisher=GFF |access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>

=== League Structure by Year ===

{| class="wikitable" |+ Erovnuli Liga Structure Over Time ! Period !! No. of teams !! Notes |- | 1990–1999 || 16–20 || Early expansion |- | 2000–2011 || 10–12 || Contraction for financial stability |- | 2012–2016 || 12 || Stable double round-robin format |- | 2017–present || 10 || Spring–autumn calendar, quadruple round-robin |}

Teams play each other four times per season (home and away twice), totaling 36 matches per club. The bottom-placed team is relegated to Erovnuli Liga 2, while the 9th-placed team enters a promotion/relegation playoff.

== Sponsorship and Branding ==

Since 2019, the league operates under the official title of '''Crystalbet Erovnuli Liga''', following a sponsorship deal with the betting company Crystalbet.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gff.ge/en/media/news/19984 |title=Crystalbet becomes title sponsor of Erovnuli Liga |publisher=GFF |access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>

The Crystalbet partnership enhanced the league’s marketing efforts, with unified branding across team jerseys, match broadcasts, and official materials. Previously, the league operated without a title sponsor.

== Broadcasting and Media Coverage ==

- Major matches are broadcast live on 1TV Sport and Adjarasport channels. - Non-televised games are streamed via the GFF's official YouTube channel and other online platforms. - Highlight shows and weekly reviews (such as "Erovnuli Ligis Mimokhilva") summarize the matchday action.

As of the 2020s, virtually every league match is available live either on television or digital streams, significantly improving fan access and visibility.

== Club Licensing and Modernization ==

The Georgian Football Federation enforces strict UEFA club licensing regulations for Erovnuli Liga participation, covering: - Stadium standards - Financial transparency - Youth development - Administrative professionalism

By 2024, all Erovnuli Liga clubs successfully met UEFA licensing standards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gff.ge/en/media/news/30145 |title=All Erovnuli Liga clubs obtain UEFA licenses |publisher=GFF |access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>

Modern stadiums like Batumi’s Adjarabet Arena and Kutaisi’s Ramaz Shengelia Stadium meet UEFA Category 4 standards.

== Recent Developments and European Access ==

Since the 2020s, the Erovnuli Liga has produced more diverse champions: - FC Saburtalo Tbilisi (2018 champions) - FC Dinamo Batumi (2021 champions)

The league champion qualifies for the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, while second and third-placed teams (and the cup winner) qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Further modernization efforts include: - Gradual preparation for VAR implementation - Enhanced media rights packaging - Youth academy investments through GFF’s strategic plan

The Erovnuli Liga remains vital to the continued development of Georgian football both domestically and internationally.

==Format== Below is a complete record of how many teams have played in each season throughout the league's history: <div style="font-size:100%"> {| |width="10"|  |valign="top"| *1990 = 17 *1991–1992 = 20 *1992–1993 = 17 *1993–1994 = 19 |width="30"|  |valign="top"| *1994–2000 = 16 *2000–2004 = 12 *2004–2005 = 10 *2005–2006 = 16 |width="30"|  |valign="top"| *2006–2008 = 14 *2008–2009 = 11 *2009–2011 = 10 *2011–2014 = 12 |width="30"|  |valign="top"| *2014–2016 = 16 *2016 (August-December) = 14 *2017- = 10 |} </div>

==UEFA country ranking== *39 15px  (''39'') {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2.500) *'''40''' 15px  (''40'') {{flagicon|Georgia}} '''Erovnuli Liga (9.876)'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407212016/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/country/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 April 2011|title=UEFA Country Ranking 2017|work=UEFA|access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref>

*41 15px  (''41'') {{flagicon|Latvia}} Latvian Higher League (6.125) *42 15px  (''42'') {{flagicon|Macedonia}} Macedonian First Football League (5.625) *43 15px  (''43'') {{flagicon|Estonia}} Meistriliiga (5.250)

==Champions== ===Soviet era=== {{div col|colwidth=28em|small=yes}} '''as Georgian SSR''' *1927: Batumi XI *1928: Tbilisi XI *1929–35: '''''Not played''''' *1936: ZII Tbilisi *1937: FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi *1938: FC Dinamo Batumi *1939: Nauka Tbilisi *1940: FC Dinamo Batumi *1941–42: '''''Not played''''' *1943: ODKA Tbilisi *1944: '''''Not played''''' *1945: FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi *1946: FC Dinamo Kutaisi *1947: FC Dinamo Sokhumi *1948: FC Dinamo Sokhumi *1949: FC Torpedo Kutaisi *1950: TODO Tbilisi *1951: TODO Tbilisi *1952: TTU Tbilisi *1953: TTU Tbilisi *1954: TTU Tbilisi *1955: Dinamo Kutaisi *1956: FC Lokomotivi Tbilisi *1957: TTU Tbilisi *1958: TTU Tbilisi *1959: Metallurg Rustavi *1960: Imereti Khoni *1961: Guria Lanchkhuti *1962: Imereti Kutaisi *1963: Imereti Kutaisi *1964: IngurGES Zugdidi *1965: Tolia Tbilisi *1966: Guria Lanchkhuti *1967: Mertskhali Makharadze *1968: SKA Tbilisi *1969: Sulori Vani *1970: SKIF Tbilisi *1971: Guria Lanchkhuti *1972: Lokomotivi Samtredia *1973: Dinamo Zugdidi *1974: Metallurg Rustavi *1975: Magaroeli Chiatura *1976: SKIF Tbilisi *1977: Mziuri Gali *1978: Kolheti Poti *1979: Metallurg Rustavi *1980: Meshakhte Tkibuli *1981: Meshakhte Tkibuli *1982: Mertskhali Makharadze *1983: Samgurali Tskaltubo *1984: Metallurg Rustavi *1985: Shadrevani-83 Tskaltubo *1986: Shevardeni-1906 Tbilisi *1987: Mertskhali Makharadze *1988: Kolkheti Khobi *1989: Shadrevani-83 Tskaltubo {{div col end}}

===Post-independence=== ;Key {| class="wikitable" |- |style="background-color:#FFFACD"|{{0}}†{{0}} |League champions also won the Georgian Cup, i.e. they completed the domestic Double. |}

'''As ''Umaglesi Liga''(Supreme League)'''

'''As ''Erovnuli Liga''(National League)'''

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:99%;" !width=60|Season !width=150|Champions !width=150|Runners-up !width=150|Third place |- | 2017 | Torpedo Kutaisi {{small|(4)}} | Dinamo Tbilisi | Samtredia |- | 2018 | Saburtalo {{small|(1)}} | Dinamo Tbilisi | Torpedo Kutaisi |- | 2019 | Dinamo Tbilisi {{small|(17)}} | Dinamo Batumi | Saburtalo |- | 2020 | Dinamo Tbilisi {{small|(18)}} | Dinamo Batumi | Dila Gori |- | 2021 | Dinamo Batumi {{small|(1)}} | Dinamo Tbilisi | Dila Gori |- | 2022 | Dinamo Tbilisi {{small|(19)}} | Dinamo Batumi | Dila Gori |- | 2023 | Dinamo Batumi {{small|(2)}} | Dinamo Tbilisi | Torpedo Kutaisi |- | 2024 | Iberia 1999 {{small|(2)}} | Torpedo Kutaisi | Dila Gori |- | 2025 | Iberia 1999 {{small|(3)}} | Dila Gori | Torpedo Kutaisi |}

==Performance by club== {{Location map+|Georgia|width=400|float=right|caption=Location of Georgian football champions|places= {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=41.983048|long=44.103936|label=Dila Gori|position=top}} {{Location map~|Georgia |lat=41.621214|long=41.611631|label=Dinamo Batumi|position=top}} {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=41.448053|long=44.534992|label=Sioni Bolnisi|position=left}} {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=41.847221|long=44.721434|label=WIT Georgia|position=top}} {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=41.540993|long=45.006808|label=Metalurgi Rustavi|position=right}} {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=42.111679|long=43.025977|label=FC Zestaponi|position=bottom}} {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=42.255127|long=42.683281|label=Torpedo Kutaisi|position=top}} {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=42.160828|long=42.330681|label=Samtredia|position=left}} {{Location map~|Georgia|lat=41.722883|long=44.789792|label=Tbilisi|position=left}} {{Location map~ |Georgia |lat=43.5 |long=46.5 |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |label='''Tbilisi teams:''' Dinamo Iberia}} }} {|class=wikitable !style="width:18%"|Club !Winners !Runners-up !Third place !Winning seasons |- |Dinamo Tbilisi |align=center|19 |align=center|8 |align=center|6 |1990, 1991, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2019, 2020, 2022 |- |Torpedo Kutaisi |align=center|4 |align=center|4 |align=center|7 |1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2017 |- |Iberia 1999 | align="center" |3 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |1 |2018, 2024, 2025 |- |Dinamo Batumi | align="center" |2 | align="center" |5 | align="center" |2 |2021, 2023 |- |WIT Georgia |align=center|2 |align=center|3 |align=center|1 |2003–04, 2008–09 |- |FC Zestaponi |align=center|2 |align=center|1 |align=center|2 |2010–11, 2011–12 |- |Metalurgi Rustavi | align="center" |2 | align="center" |1 | align="center" |4 |2006–07, 2009–10 |- |Dila Gori | align="center" |1 | align="center" |2 | align="center" |5 |2014–15 |- |Samtredia |align=center|1 |align=center|2 |align=center|1 |2016 |- |Sioni Bolnisi |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |2005–06 |}

==Top scorers== {| class=wikitable |- !Year !Top scorers !Club !Goals |- align=left |1990 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Gia Guruli {{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Mamuka Pantsulaia || Iberia Tbilisi Gorda Rustavi || 23 |- align=left |1991 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Otar Korgalidze || Guria Lanchkhuti || 14 |- align=left |1991–92 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Otar Korgalidze || Guria Lanchkhuti || 40 |- align=left |1992–93 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Merab Megreladze || Samgurali Tskaltubo|| 41 |- align=left |1993–94 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Merab Megreladze || Margveti Zestaponi|| 31 |- align=left |1994–95 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Giorgi Daraselia || Kolkheti Poti || 26 |- align=left |1995–96 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Zviad Endeladze || Margveti Zestaponi|| 40 |- align=left |1996–97 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Giorgi Demetradze {{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} David Ujmajuridze || Dinamo Tbilisi Dinamo Batumi || 26 |- align=left |1997–98 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Levan Khomeriki || Dinamo Tbilisi || 23 |- align=left |1998–99 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Mikheil Ashvetia || Dinamo Tbilisi || 26 |- align=left |1999–00 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Zurab Ionanidze || Torpedo Kutaisi || 25 |- align=left |2000–01 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Zaza Zirakishvili || Dinamo Tbilisi || 21 |- align=left |2001–02 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Suliko Davitashvili|| Locomotive Merani-91 || 18 |- align=left |2002–03 |{{flagicon|Georgia|1990}} Zurab Ionanidze || Torpedo Kutaisi || 26 |- align=left |2003–04 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Suliko Davitashvili|| Torpedo Kutaisi || 20 |- align=left |2004–05 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Levani Melkadze || Dinamo Tbilisi || 27 |- align=left |2005–06 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Jaba Dvali || Dinamo Tbilisi || 21 |- align=left |2006–07 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Sandro Iashvili || Dinamo Tbilisi || 27 |- align=left |2007–08 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Mikheil Khutsishvili || Dinamo Tbilisi || 16 |- align=left |2008–09 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Nikoloz Gelashvili || Zestaponi|| 20 |- align=left |2009–10 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} Anderson Aquino || Metalurgi Rustavi || 26 |- align=left |2010–11 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Nikoloz Gelashvili || Zestaponi|| 18 |- align=left |2011–12 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Jaba Dvali || Zestaponi|| 20 |- align=left ||2012–13 |{{flagicon|Spain}} Xisco || Dinamo Tbilisi || 24 |- align=left ||2013–14 |{{flagicon|Spain}} Xisco || Dinamo Tbilisi || 19 |- align=left ||2014–15 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Irakli Modebadze || Dila Gori || 16 |- align=left ||2015–16 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Kvilitaia || Dinamo Tbilisi || 24 |- align=left ||2016 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Budu Zivzivadze || Samtredia || 11 |- align=left ||2017 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Irakli Sikharulidze || Locomotive Tbilisi || 25 |- align=left ||2018 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Giorgi Gabedava {{flagicon|Georgia}} Budu Zivzivadze || Chikhura Sachkhere Dinamo Tbilisi|| 22 |- align=left ||2019 |{{flagicon|Georgia}} Levan Kutalia || Dinamo Tbilisi || 20 |- align=left ||2020 |{{flagicon|Ukraine}} Mykola Kovtalyuk || Dila Gori || 10 |- align=left ||2021 |{{Flagicon|Serbia}} Zoran Marušić || Dinamo Tbilisi || 16 |- align=left ||2022 ||{{Flagicon|Brazil}} Flamarion || Dinamo Batumi || 19 |- ||2023 ||{{Flagicon|Brazil}} Flamarion {{flagicon|SRB}} Zoran Marušić {{flagicon|Georgia}} Zurab Museliani|| Dinamo Batumi Dinamo Tbilisi Gagra||17 |- |2024 |{{flagicon|NOR}} Bjørn Johnsen |Torpedo Kutaisi |23 |- |2025 |{{flagicon|NOR}} Bjørn Johnsen |Torpedo Kutaisi |21 |}

==Annual awards== {{main|Erovnuli Liga awards}} ==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://erovnuliliga.ge/en}} *[https://int.soccerway.com/national/georgia/umaglesi-liga/2017/regular-season/r39831/ Erovnuli Liga on Soccerway] *[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/georchamp.html Georgia - List of Champions], RSSSF.com *[https://hotscore.com/en/soccer/tournament/665?tab=summary Erovnuli Liga on Hotscore]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Category:Erovnuli Liga 1 Georgia Category:Sports leagues established in 1990 Category:1990 establishments in Georgia (country)