Temur Ketsbaia

• Full name: Temuri Ketsbaia (commonly written as Temur Ketsbaia)
• Date of birth: March 12, 1968
• Place of birth: Sukhumi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union (now Abkhazia, Georgia)
• Nationality: Georgian
• Position: Attacking midfielder / Winger
• Playing style: Energetic, skillful wide midfielder known for dribbling, crossing, long-range shots and set-piece ability; also praised for work-rate and temperament.

Club career highlights

• Dinamo Tbilisi (early career) – Emerged as a talented midfielder in Georgian football.
• Trabzonspor (Turkey) – Gained wider recognition; enjoyed success in the Turkish league.
• AEK Athens (Greece) – Important period of his career. Ketsbaia joined AEK in 1995 and played as an attacking midfielder/winger, becoming a fan favourite for his creativity and goals. He contributed to AEK’s domestic campaigns in the mid-1990s before moving on to other clubs.
• Newcastle United (England) – Signed in 1995, he made an immediate impact in the Premier League, scoring notable goals and becoming well regarded by fans.
• Later spells included clubs such as Anorthosis Famagusta and others as his playing career wound down.

International career

• Represented the Georgia national team, earning numerous caps and serving as one of the country's prominent players through the 1990s.

Managerial career

• After retiring as a player, Ketsbaia transitioned to coaching. He has managed several clubs and national teams, including Anorthosis Famagusta (Cyprus), APOEL (Cyprus) — where he achieved domestic success and led the club in European competitions — and the Georgia national team. He also had managerial spells at clubs such as Olympiacos and AEK Athens.

Notable achievements

• Remembered for key goals and decisive performances at club level, particularly during his time in Greece, Turkey, England and Cyprus.
• As a manager, won domestic titles in Cyprus and guided teams in UEFA competitions.

Legacy

Temur Ketsbaia is regarded as one of Georgia’s most prominent football figures from his generation — both as an influential attacking player and later as a successful coach, especially noted for his passion, tactical knowledge and success in Cypriot and Greek football.