Mikheil Kavelashvili (foto: Twitter)
Ex-Manchester City forward Mikheil Kavelashvili is the frontrunner to become Georgia’s president, representing the ruling Georgian Dream party in a tense political landscape.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former Manchester City striker, is set to make history by transitioning from the football pitch to the highest political office in Georgia. The 53-year-old is the presidential candidate for the Georgian Dream party, which has held power since 2012. According to Georgian media, Kavelashvili’s victory in the upcoming elections is all but assured.
The former footballer’s candidacy comes at a turbulent time for Georgia. The European Parliament has refused to recognize the results of the October 26 elections due to allegations of irregularities and what it described as the ruling party’s “continued drift from democracy.” Despite this, Georgian Dream has doubled down by nominating Kavelashvili, a decision that has sparked protests and boycotts from opposition parties.
Kavelashvili’s football career is remembered fondly by older Manchester City fans. Between 1996 and 1998, he played for City when the club was a far cry from the European powerhouse it is today, competing in the Championship, England’s second division. Arriving from Georgian club Torpedo Kutaisi, Kavelashvili formed a notable duo with fellow Georgian Georgi Kinkladze, who was an icon for City fans at the time.
Kavelashvili’s quick dribbling and creativity made him a fan favorite, with one of his most memorable moments being his debut goal against Manchester United in April 1996, even though City lost the match 3-2 at Maine Road. However, after two seasons, he was loaned to Grasshoppers in Switzerland and eventually moved there permanently, later playing for Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle before retiring.
His move into politics mirrors that of other former Georgian footballers. Kakha Kaladze, the ex-AC Milan defender and Champions League winner, has been the Mayor of Tbilisi since 2017. Similarly, former defender Levan Kobiashvili now serves as a member of the Georgian Parliament.
Kavelashvili, however, has taken a more controversial path. A co-founder of the People’s Power party, which split from Georgian Dream in 2022, he is known for his anti-Western rhetoric. Despite this, he has received praise from Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of Georgian Dream, who described him as a “patriotic and principled leader” and a “symbol of Georgian values.”
Ivanishvili’s support has bolstered Kavelashvili’s position ahead of the December 14 elections, where Georgian Dream’s dominance in the political landscape makes the former striker the overwhelming favorite. The party has adopted a combative tone, accusing the opposition of seeking to bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to Georgia’s borders.
From laying the foundations for a rebuilding Manchester City in the 1990s to potentially shaping Georgia’s political future, Kavelashvili’s journey is a unique example of how sports and politics often intertwine.