Akaki Gogia (Georgian: აკაკი გოგია; born 18 January 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for VSG Altglienicke.

Akaki Gogia
Gogia while with FC St. Pauli in 2013
Personal information
Full name Akaki Gogia[1]
Date of birth (1992-01-18) 18 January 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Rustavi, Georgia
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger, attacking midfielder[3]
Team information
Current team
VSG Altglienicke
Number 12
Youth career
2001 FSV 67 Halle
2001–2004 Hannover 96
2004–2011 VfL Wolfsburg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 VfL Wolfsburg II 9 (0)
2011–2013 VfL Wolfsburg 0 (0)
2011–2012FC Augsburg (loan) 12 (0)
2012–2013FC St. Pauli (loan) 23 (1)
2013FC St. Pauli II (loan) 1 (0)
2013–2015 Hallescher FC 71 (19)
2015–2017 Brentford 13 (0)
2016–2017Dynamo Dresden (loan) 22 (10)
2017–2021 Union Berlin 60 (8)
2021–2022 FC Zürich 17 (3)
2022–2023 Dynamo Dresden 12 (0)
2023– VSG Altglienicke 14 (4)
International career
2010 Germany U18 4 (0)
2010–2011 Germany U19 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:15, 20 December 2023 (UTC)

Gogia began his career in Germany with VfL Wolfsburg, before transferring to Hallescher FC in 2013. Following an abortive 2015–16 season in England with Brentford, he returned to Germany and played for Dynamo Dresden and Union Berlin. Following a spell as a fringe player with Swiss club FC Zürich, Gogia returned to Germany to rejoin Dynamo Dresden in 2022, for whom he had earlier played on loan. Following another spell as a fringe player, he transferred to VSG Altglienicke in 2023. Born in Georgia, Gogia won international youth caps for Germany at U18 and U19 level. His nickname is "Andy".[4]

Club career edit

VfL Wolfsburg edit

A midfielder,[4] Gogia began his career in Germany as a junior with FSV 67 Halle and Hannover 96,[5][6] before transferring to VfL Wolfsburg in 2004.[7] He came through the youth ranks and made his reserve team debut in February 2010, going on to make 9 appearances.[2] He scored prolifically for Wolfsburg's U17 and U19 teams,[8] scoring a total of 44 goals in 86 appearances and contributing to the team's 2010–11 U19 Bundesliga win, in which he scored in the final.[9]

Along with three other reserve players, Gogia was promoted to the first team squad in December 2010 by general manager Dieter Hoeness and coach Steve McClaren,[10] who dropped Karim Ziani and Caiuby to the reserves.[11] After being included in the party for a winter training camp in Marbella,[10] Gogia was called into the senior squad for the first time for a Bundesliga match versus Bayern Munich on 15 January 2011.[2] He remained an unused substitute during the 11 draw and was called up twice more during the 2010–11 season.[2]

On 11 May 2012, it was announced that Gogia had joined Bundesliga club FC Augsburg on loan for the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons.[12] He made the first professional appearance of his career when he came on as a substitute for Marcel Ndjeng in a 2–1 DFB-Pokal first round win over Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on 30 July 2011.[2] He made 14 appearances during his spell,[2] which was cut short by torn ligaments in his left knee.[13][14]

In July 2012, Gogia joined 2. Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli on loan for the 2012–13 season.[15] He made 24 appearances and scored once before returning to Wolfsburg at the end of the season.[2] Gogia departed VfL Wolfsburg in July 2013.[16]

Hallescher FC edit

In July 2013, Gogia dropped down the 3. Liga to sign for hometown club Hallescher FC on a two-year contract.[17] He made 81 appearances and scored 26 goals during his two seasons with the club.[2] Gogia finished the club's 2014–15 Saxony-Anhalt Cup campaign as the tournament's joint-top scorer and scored in a 6–0 rout of neighbours VfL Halle 1896 in the final.[18]

Brentford edit

On 16 May 2015, it was announced that Gogia had signed a "long term" contract with English Championship club Brentford on a free transfer.[19] He missed almost all of September 2015 with a thigh injury and after a change of manager and system in early October,[20][21] Gogia dropped out of the starting lineup and out of the squad altogether by December, save for two substitute appearances in January 2016.[2] A further injury in March 2016 kept him on the sidelines,[22] but he returned to make four substitute appearances in April and finished the season with 14 appearances.[2]

After finding himself far down the midfield pecking order at the end of the 2016–17 pre-season,[23] Gogia joined 2. Bundesliga club Dynamo Dresden on loan for the duration of the 2016–17 season,[23] with an option to buy.[24] He broke into the starting lineup and scored 7 goals in 17 appearances before suffering an ankle ligament injury during a league match versus 1. FC Nürnberg on 29 January 2017.[2][25] Gogia returned to match play on 10 April and finished his spell with 10 goals in 24 appearances.[2] He was reported by Kicker to have statistically been the best 2. Bundesliga player during the 2016–17 season.[26] On 30 June 2017, Gogia joined the club on a permanent contract for an undisclosed fee (rumoured to be €750,000),[27] but remained for just 24 hours before departing.[28]

Union Berlin edit

On 1 July 2017, Gogia joined 2. Bundesliga club Union Berlin on a four-year contract.[28] He made 22 appearances and scored two goals during the 2017–18 season and was a part of the squad which was promoted to the Bundesliga via the 2019 Bundesliga relegation play-offs.[2][29] On his third appearance of the 2019–20 season, in a league match versus Eintracht Frankfurt on 27 September 2019, Gogia suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.[30] He recovered to make 8 appearances during the 2020–21 season and was released when his contract expired.[2][31] Gogia made 64 appearances and scored 8 goals during four seasons at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.[31]

FC Zürich edit

On 28 July 2021, Gogia signed a two-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Zürich on a free transfer.[32] He made 17 appearances and scored four goals during the club's Swiss Super League championship-winning 2021–22 season.[2][33] After making just three appearances during the opening six weeks of the 2022–23 season,[2] Gogia had his contract terminated by mutual consent on 29 August 2022.[34] He made 21 appearances and scored four goals during 13 months at the Letzigrund.[34]

Return to Dynamo Dresden edit

On 29 August 2022, Gogia returned to Dynamo Dresden and signed a two-year contract with the 3. Liga club.[35] Gogia made 14 appearances during the 2022–23 season and had his contract terminated by mutual consent on 31 July 2023.[36] Gogia made 38 appearances and scored 10 goals across his two spells with the club.[2][36]

VSG Altglienicke edit

On 1 August 2023, Gogia signed a contract with Regionalliga Nordost club VSG Altglienicke on a free transfer.[37]

International career edit

Gogia won seven caps for Germany at U18 and U19 level and scored once in a 2–1 friendly defeat to Belgium on 25 March 2011.[38][39][40] In May 2015, it was reported that Georgia had contacted Gogia about a call up.[41]

Personal life edit

Gogia was born in Rustavi, Georgia and moved to Halle, Germany with his parents at the age of 9 in 2001.[6][41] His parents later moved to Hanover and then Augsburg, which influenced his moves to Hannover 96 and FC Augsburg.[42]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 26 November 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
VfL Wolfsburg II 2009–10[2] Regionalliga Nord 4 0 4 0
2010–11[2] Regionalliga Nord 5 0 5 0
Total 9 0 9 0
VfL Wolfsburg 2010–11[2] Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 0 0
FC Augsburg (loan) 2011–12[2] Bundesliga 12 0 2 0 14 0
FC St. Pauli (loan) 2012–13[2] 2. Bundesliga 23 1 1 0 24 1
FC St. Pauli II (loan) 2012–13[2] Regionalliga Nord 1 0 1 0
Hallescher FC 2013–14[2] 3. Liga 36 8 5[c] 1 41 9
2014–15[2] 3. Liga 35 11 5[c] 6 40 17
Total 71 19 10 7 81 26
Brentford 2015–16[43] Championship 13 0 0 0 1 0 14 0
Dynamo Dresden (loan) 2016–17[2] 2. Bundesliga 22 10 2 0 24 10
Union Berlin 2017–18[2] 2. Bundesliga 22 2 0 0 22 2
2018–19[2] 2. Bundesliga 28 6 1 0 2[d] 0 31 6
2019–20[2] Bundesliga 3 0 0 0 3 0
2020–21[2] Bundesliga 7 0 1 0 8 0
Total 60 8 2 0 2 0 64 8
FC Zürich 2021–22[2] Swiss Super League 15 3 3 1 18 4
2022–23[2] Swiss Super League 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Total 17 3 4 1 0 0 21 4
Dynamo Dresden 2022–23[36] 3. Liga 12 0 2[e] 0 14 0
Total 34 10 2 0 2 0 38 10
VSG Altglienicke 2023–24[2] Regionalliga Nordost 14 4 1[f] 1 15 5
Career total 253 45 11 1 1 0 0 0 15 8 281 54
  1. ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup, Swiss Cup
  2. ^ Includes Football League Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in Saxony-Anhalt Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in Saxony Cup
  6. ^ Appearance in Berlin Cup

Honours edit

Hallescher FC

Union Berlin

FC Zürich

References edit

  1. ^ "EFL: Retained list: 2015/16" (PDF). English Football League. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Akaki Gogia at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  3. ^ Akaki Gogia at WorldFootball.net
  4. ^ a b Krause, Stefan; Rosenfeld, Buttje (10 July 2012). "Zwölf Bundesliga-Spiele: St. Pauli holt Straßenfußballer "Andy" Gogia". mopo.de (in German). Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Stuermerstar Des HFC Besucht Seine Fussballkinderstube". fsv67.de (in German). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Akaki Gogia: Der Techniker ist erwachsen geworden". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  7. ^ "Akaki Gogia". kicker online (in German). Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Akaki Gogia". Elite Football. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  9. ^ "VfL Wolfsburg wird zum ersten Mal Deutscher Meister". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Fußball – Nachwuchs-Quartett fügt sich im Trainingslager gut ein". Altmark Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  11. ^ "McClaren to stay on at Wolfsburg". The Independent. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Nachwuchsspieler aus Wolfsburg". Spox.com (in German). 11 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  13. ^ "FC Augsburg: Akaki Gogia kämpft sich zurück". Augsburger Allgemeine (in German). 31 May 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  14. ^ "Augsburg 1 – 1 Schalke 04 Match preview – 22/04/12 Bundesliga". Goal. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Fußball 2.Bundesliga: St. Pauli leiht Akaki Gogia vom VfL Wolfsburg – Handelsblatt". handelsblatt.com (in German). Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  16. ^ Akaki Gogia at Soccerbase  
  17. ^ "Hallescher FC e.V.: HFC verpflichtet Offensivmannn Gogia vom VfL Wolfsburg". Hallescher FC e.V. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  18. ^ "Landespokal". FuPa.net. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  19. ^ Chapman, Mark. "Akaki Gogia signs for Brentford from Hallescher FC". brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  20. ^ "September injury update". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  21. ^ Brett, Ciaran. "Andy Gogia looks back on his first season at Griffin Park and Brentford". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  22. ^ Moore, Tom (31 March 2016). "Brentford's injury crisis has returned with a vengeance". getwestlondon. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Andy Gogia joins 2.Bundesliga side Dynamo Dresden on season-long loan deal". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Greift Dynamo für Gogia tief in die Tasche?". TAG24 (in German). Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  25. ^ "Dynamo Dresden: Akaki Gogia und Erich Berko fallen vorerst aus". Sport1.de (in German). Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  26. ^ "2. Bundesliga – die Topspieler 2016/17". kicker online (in German). Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Brentford FC Gogia completes permanent switch to Dresden". Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Unter Dach und Fach: Union verpflichtet Gogia". kicker Online (in German). 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  29. ^ a b "Summary – Play-offs 1/2 – Germany – Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  30. ^ "Akaki Gogia | Gogia erleidet Kreuzbandriss". ligainsider.de (in German). 28 September 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  31. ^ a b "Akaki Gogia To Leave 1. FC Union Berlin". fc-union-berlin.de. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet Offensivspieler Akaki Gogia". FC Zürich (in German). Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Tables – Super League – Switzerland – Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Vertrag mit Akaki Gogia aufgelöst". FC Zürich (in German). Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  35. ^ "Akaki Gogia kehrt zur SGD zurück". Sportgemeinschaft Dynamo Dresden – Die offizielle Website (in German). Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  36. ^ a b c "SGD und Akaki Gogia lösen Vertrag auf". Sportgemeinschaft Dynamo Dresden – Die offizielle Website (in German). Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Kurier-Exklusiv: Ex-Union-Star Akaki Gogia kommt zur VSG Altglienicke". Berliner Kurier (in German). 1 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  38. ^ Akaki Gogia at DFB (also available in German)
  39. ^ "Spielplan". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). 2 April 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  40. ^ "U 19 verliert in Völklingen gegen Belgien". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  41. ^ a b Tabagari, Lasha. "Akaki Gogia: "The Georgian Football Federation Contacted My Mother"". World Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  42. ^ "Premiere in Schwarz-Gelb | Wie fühlt sich Dynamo an, Herr Gogia?" (in German). 24 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  43. ^ "Games played by Akaki Gogia in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  44. ^ "Spielbericht Hallescher FC – VfL Halle 1896". FuPa. Retrieved 18 May 2015.

External links edit