Saba Kvirkvelia
Kvirkvelia with Rotor Volgograd in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992
Place of birth Samtredia, Georgia
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Al-Okhdood
Number 5
Youth career
Gloria Samtredia
2005– Dinamo Tbilisi
Tengiz Sulakvelidze Academy Tbilisi
2009–2010 Zenit Saint Petersburg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2017 Rubin Kazan 87 (3)
2012–2013 → Neftekhimik (loan) 18 (0)
2017 → Lokomotiv Moscow (loan) 12 (0)
2017–2021 Lokomotiv Moscow 68 (3)
2020–2021 → Rotor Volgograd (loan) 19 (0)
2021–2022 Metalist 1925 Kharkiv 6 (0)
2022 Gagra 12 (0)
2022–2023 Neftçi 33 (2)
2023– Al-Okhdood 14 (0)
International career‡
2009–2010 Georgia U-19 6 (0)
2011–2013 Georgia U-21 14 (0)
2014– Georgia 55 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 November 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 November 2023

Solomon "Saba" Kvirkvelia (Georgian: სოლომონ "საბა" კვირკველია, romanized: solomon "saba" k'virk'velia, pronounced [solomon saba kʼʷiɾkʼʷelia]; born 6 February 1992) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Saudi Professional League club Al-Okhdood and the Georgia national team.

He has been twice named as Footballer of the Year in Georgia.[1]

Club career

Rubin Kazan

After spending a season with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Kvirkvelia joined another Russian club, FC Rubin Kazan in 2011. He made his Russian Premier League debut for FC Rubin Kazan on 22 July 2011 in a game against FC Terek Grozny.[2]

Lokomotiv Moscow

In February 2017, FC Rubin Kazan and Lokomotiv Moscow agreed a loan deal for Kvirkvelia until the end of the season.[3] Kvirkvelia became a regular member of the team, participating 12 games until the end of the season. Lokomotiv won Russian Cup during this season, which was the first title for the Georgian with his new club.[4]

On 30 June 2017, he moved to Lokomotiv on a permanent basis, signing a four-year contract.[5]

Loan to Rotor Volgograd

On 20 August 2020, he joined Rotor Volgograd on loan for the 2020–21 season.[6]

Move to Ukraine

In October 2021, Kvirkvelia moved to the Ukrainian Premier League side Metalist 1925,[7] although his tenure was abruptly ended due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Gagra

On 8 April 2022, Kvirkvelia returned to Georgia and signed with Gagra,[8] the first Georgian club in his career.

Neftçi

On 4 July 2022, Neftçi announced the signing of Kvirkvelia on a two-year contract.[9] On 16 July 2023, Kvirkvelia left Neftçi after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[10]

Al-Okhdood

On 15 July 2023, Kvirkvelia joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Okhdood on a free transfer.[11]

International career

On an international level, he debuted for Georgia in a friendly match against Liechtenstein on 5 March 2014.

In 2011–13, Kvirkvelia was repeatedly called up to the U21 team. Having participated in 14 competitive games, he is among the five all-time most capped players.[12]

Honours

Rubin Kazan

Lokomotiv Moscow

Individual

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 November 2023[14]
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rubin Kazan 2011–12 Russian Premier League 81204[lower-alpha 2]0—141
2012–13 3000000030
2013–14 180103[lower-alpha 3]0–220
2014–15 29130——321
2015–16 2910010[lower-alpha 3]0—391
2016–17 0010——10
Total 87370170001113
Neftekhimik (loan) 2012–13 Russian National Football League 18010——190
Lokomotiv Moscow 2016–17 Russian Premier League 12030——150
2017–18 2921110[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0413
2018–19 301505[lower-alpha 2]000401
2019–20 90101[lower-alpha 2]000110
Total 803101160101074
Rotor (loan) 2020–21 Russian Premier League 190———190
Metalist 1925 2021–22 Ukrainian Premier League 6010——70
Gagra 2022 Erovnuli Liga 120———120
Neftçi 2022–23 Azerbaijan Premier League 332504[lower-alpha 5]0—422
Al-Okhdood 2023–24 Saudi Pro League 14010——150
Career total 2698251370103329

International

As of 26 November 2023[15]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Georgia
201470
201550
201680
201760
201870
201930
202050
202110
202260
202370
Total550

References

  1. ↑ "GFF Awards 2017". Georgian Football Federation (in Georgian). 27 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Game report by RFPL". Russian Premier League. 22 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011.
  3. ↑ FC Rubin and FC Lokomotiv made a loan deal for Kverkvelia
  4. ↑ Lokomotiv win the 2017 Russian Cup Final in Sochi
  5. ↑ Кверквелия перешёл в «Локо» (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 30 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Соломон Кверквелия стал игроком "Ротора"" (in Russian). FC Rotor Volgograd. 20 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Металлист 1925 подписал защитника сборной Грузии". football.ua (in Russian). 14 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "ეროვნული ნაკრების მცველი, საბა კვერკველია, ოფიციალურად ჩვენი ფეხბურთელია" (in Georgian). Gagra. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  9. ↑ "Gürcüstan milli komandasının üzvü "Neftçi"də". neftchi.az/ (in Azerbaijani). Neftçi PFK. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Solomon Kverkveliya ilə müqaviləyə xitam verilib". neftchi.az (in Azerbaijani). Neftçi PFK. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "ادي #الأخدود يعلن التوقيع مع اللاعب الجورجي سولومون كفيركفيليا".
  12. ↑ "Georgia U21, statistics". uefa.com.
  13. ↑ ""Локомотив" – обладатель Олимп-Кубка России по футболу" [Lokomotiv is the winner of the Olimp-Russian Cup] (in Russian). Russian Football Union. 22 May 2019.
  14. ↑ Solomon Kvirkvelia at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Kvirkvelia, Solomon". National Football Teams. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
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