Guram Kashia (Order of Honor) (Georgian: გურამ კაშია, romanized: guram k'ashia, pronounced [ɡuɾam kʼaʃia]; born 4 July 1987) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Niké Liga club Slovan Bratislava and captains the Georgia national team.[2]
 Kashia with Vitesse in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 July 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Slovan Bratislava | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2006 | Dinamo Tbilisi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2010 | Dinamo Tbilisi | 91 | (12) |
| 2010–2018 | Vitesse | 250 | (22) |
| 2018–2020 | San Jose Earthquakes | 44 | (0) |
| 2021 | Locomotive Tbilisi | 16 | (4) |
| 2021– | Slovan Bratislava | 75 | (6) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2009 | Georgia U21 | 10 | (2) |
| 2009– | Georgia | 121 | (3) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:50, 6 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:47, 14 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Developed at Dinamo Tbilisi, Kashia spent most of his career at Dutch Eredivisie club Vitesse, where he was captain. In eight years in the Netherlands, he played 292 official matches (24 goals) and won the KNVB Cup in 2017.
Club career
editDinamo Tbilisi
editKashia started playing for Dinamo Tbilisi. He is still a big fan of his former club.[3]
Vitesse
editIn 2010, Kashia moved to the Netherlands and signed for Vitesse.[4] Kashia soon became a regular member of the starting line-up of the club and two seasons after joining, Kashia was elected as the captain of the club. During his career at Vitesse, he amassed a total of 292 matches.
In August 2015, Kashia was named Best Player of August in Eredivisie.[5]
Kashia led Vitesse to the domestic KNVB Cup in 2016–17, starting all but one of their six games and recording a goal and an assist. In his five starts, the club outscored their opponents 12–2, including a 2–0 victory over eventual league champions Feyenoord Rotterdam in the quarterfinals.
In October 2017, Kashia wore a rainbow-striped captain's armband for Vitesse against Heracles Almelo in support of LGBT rights, leading to a backlash in his own country and calls for him to step down from the Georgian national team.[6]
His name was also transliterated as Goeram Kasjia in Dutch.[7]
San Jose Earthquakes
editOn 14 June 2018, Kashia joined Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes on a multi-year contract,[8] joining compatriot and close friend Vako Qazaishvili.[2]
San Jose declined their contract option on Kashia following their 2020 season.[9]
Slovan Bratislava
editUpon his release from San Jose, Kashia spent three months at Locomotive Tbilisi and in June 2021 signed a contract with Slovan Bratislava,[10] later extended until summer 2024.
He was a regular squad member of the team which continued winning the champion's title. The Slovak top league duly recognized Kashia's contribution and three times in a row included him in Team of the Season.[11][12]
Kashia signed a new year-long contract with Slovan on 27 June 2024.[13]
International career
edit
Kashia made his Georgia debut on 1 April 2009 against Montenegro.[14] In October 2012, he scored Georgia's only goal against Finland in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.[15]
Kashia was named Georgian Footballer of the Year twice, in 2012 and in 2013.[16] As of 14 June 2018[update], Kashia captains his country.[2] On 26 September 2022, he played his 100th match for Georgia in the Nations League game against Gibraltar.[17] Kashia is the most capped Georgian player of all time.[18]
Kashia took part in Georgia's all matches both in the Euro 2024 qualifying stages and Euro 2024 championship in full. On 2 July 2024, along with other squad members he received the Order of Honour.[19]
Personal life
editKashia is from Tbilisi, Georgia. He married his wife Tamtuka in 2009, and their daughter Alessandra was born in 2013.[20][21] His older brother Shota is also a professional footballer and has played at Georgian Erovnuli Liga club FC Chikhura Sachkhere since 2013; both brothers wear #37 for their clubs.[22] Kashia has stated that his older brother is the reason he began playing football as a child.[23]
In November 2017, while playing for Vitesse, Kashia wore a rainbow armband as part of the Dutch initiative Coming Out Day. His show of support for gay rights led to protests outside the Georgian Football Federation's headquarters demanding his removal from the national team, at which eight people were arrested. He described himself as being "proud to support equal rights".[24] In August 2018, he became the inaugural recipient of UEFA's #EqualGame award for his pro-LGBT rights stand.[25] He was unable to attend the awards ceremony in Monaco due to his club commitments with San Jose, but submitted a video acceptance speech in which he said, "I believe in equality for everyone, no matter what you believe in, who you love or who you are...I will always keep defending equality and equal rights for everyone, wherever I will play."[26] In December 2018, he received the Presidential Order of Excellence from Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili.[27]
He is outspoken about the ongoing illegal Russian occupation of Georgia following the 2008 Russo-Georgian War.[28]
Kashia obtained his U.S. green card in July 2019, qualifying him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[29]
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental[a] | Other[b] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dinamo Tbilisi | 2006–07 | Umaglesi Liga | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11+ | 2+ | ||||
| 2007–08 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15+ | 1+ | ||||||
| 2008–09 | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33+ | 1+ | ||||
| 2009–10 | 33 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 10 | ||
| 2010–11 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7+ | 0+ | ||||
| Total | 91 | 12 | 6+ | 1+ | 11+ | 1+ | 2 | 0 | 110+ | 14+ | ||
| Vitesse | 2010–11 | Eredivisie | 28 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| 2011–12 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 3 | ||
| 2012–13 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | 32 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2014–15 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 | ||
| 2016–17 | 34 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 43 | 4 | ||
| Total | 244 | 20 | 20 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 292 | 24 | ||
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2018 | MLS | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2019 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
| Locomotive Tbilisi | 2021 | Erovnuli Liga | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 4 |
| Slovan Bratislava | 2021–22 | Slovak Super Liga | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 3 |
| 2022–23 | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 4 | ||
| 2023–24 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Total | 79 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 51 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 9 | ||
| Career total | 471 | 42 | 37+ | 3+ | 80+ | 5+ | 16 | 2 | 604+ | 51+ | ||
- ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Includes European competition play-offs and Johan Cruyff Shield, Georgian Super Cup
International
edit| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 119 | 3 | |
- Scores and results list Georgia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kashia goal.[31][32]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 October 2012 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland |  Finland |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 1 June 2018 | Silberstadt Arena Schwaz, Schwaz, Austria |  Malta |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 2 June 2022 | Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia |  Gibraltar |
2–0 | 4–0 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C |
Honours
editDinamo Tbilisi
Vitesse
Slovan Bratislava
Individual
- Presidential order of excellence for unconditional support of LGBTQ+ community: 2018
- Order of Honour: 2024
- UEFA#EqualGame Award: 2018
- Georgian Footballer of the Year: 2012, 2013
- Vitesse player of the Year: 2015–16
- Slovak Super Liga Team of the Season: 2021–22,[33] 2022–23,[34] 2023–24[35]
References
edit- ^ a b "G. Kashia: Summary". soccerway. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ a b c Mendola, Nicholas (14 June 2018). "San Jose signs Miazga's running mate Kashia to fix defense". NBC Sports. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ "Guram Kashia - Dinamo is always in my heart". fcdinamo.ge. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ "Official: Vitesse Sign Nacer Barazite, Matej Delac, Marcus Pedersen, Guram Kashia & Laryea Kingston". Goal.com. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ "Guram Kashia was Named as the Best Player of August in Dutch Championship". worldsport.ge. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- ^ UEFA (30 August 2018). "Kashia proud of UEFA #EqualGame Award". Retrieved 23 November 2018.
- ^ "Vitesse vernedert Sparta na vertrek Fraser" (in Dutch). NOS. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ Earthquakes Communications (14 June 2018). "NEWS: Earthquakes Acquire Vitesse and Georgia National Team Captain Guram Kashia". San Jose Earthquakes. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ "NEWS: Earthquakes announce roster moves ahead of 2021 MLS season | San Jose Earthquakes".
- ^ "გურამ კაშია და ჯაბა კანკავა ბრატისლავის სლოვანში გადავიდნენ". netgazeti.ge (in Georgian). 17 June 2021.
- ^ "Jedenástka sezóny Fortuna ligy". fortunaliga.sk (in Slovakian). 21 May 2023.
- ^ "კაშია სიმბოლურ ნაკრებში დასახელეს". atiani.ge (in Georgian) (in Georgian). 21 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Slovanu Bratislava zostal posledný Gruzínec. Guram Kašia potiahne ešte jednu sezónu". sport.aktuality.sk (in Slovakian). 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Georgia - Montenegro (Report)". eu-football.info. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- ^ "Best Georgian Footballer 2013 revealed". Georgian Journal. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Finland-Georgia football match 1:1". Georgian Journal. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
- ^ "Gibraltar 1–2 Georgia". Sports Mole. 26 September 2022.
- ^ "ეროვნული ნაკრების სტატისტიკა". nakrebi.ge (in Georgian).
- ^ "პრეზიდენტი - მინდა, ერთობის სახელით, ეს ჯილდო გადავცე ბიჭებს და ვუსურვო, რომ გზა მათი გამარჯვებისა უსასრულო ყოფილიყოს". president.ge (in Georgian). 2 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Kashia, Guram (16 September 2019). "მიყვარხარ [I love you] ♥️! Our 10 year wedding anniversary!". Instagram. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Kashia, Guram (24 September 2019). "გილოცავ ალისო 6️⃣ ♥️ Happy birthday Aliso!". Instagram. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ "შოთა კაშია [Shota Kashia]" (in Georgian). FC Chikhura. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ San Jose Earthquakes (28 August 2019). "Podcast: Guram Kashia on Life and Soccer in San Jose - Off Pitch 74". Youtube. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ "8 arrests at Georgia demo over soccer player's gay rights armband". NBC News. November 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Guram Kashia: Georgia captain becomes first recipient of Uefa #EqualGame award". BBC Sport. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ UEFA (22 August 2018). "Georgia's Guram Kashia wins the first UEFA #EqualGame Award". Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ President of Georgia (10 December 2018). "President Margvelashvili Awards Public Figures for Spreading Humane Ideas and Contributing to Country's Development". Retrieved 23 November 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Kashia, Guram (21 June 2019). "20% of my country is occupied by Russia! რუსეთი ოკუპანტია! [Russia is an occupier!]" (in Georgian). Instagram. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
- ^ Earthquakes Communications (29 July 2019). "NEWS: Guram Kashia obtains U.S. Green Card". sjearthquakes.com. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Guram Kashia » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Kashia, Guram". National Football Teams. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Guram Kashia". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Jedenastka sezony..." Fortuna liga. 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Jedenastka sezony..." Fortuna liga. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "კაშია სიმბოლურში მოხვდა, ვაისი საუკეთესოდ აღიარეს". crystalsport.ge (in Georgian). 13 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
External links
edit
- Player profile at Dinamo's official website (in Georgian)
- Guram Kashia – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Guram Kashia at National-Football-Teams.com
- Voetbal International profile (in Dutch)
- Guram Kashia at Soccerway