:FC Mertskhali Ozurgeti

Founded in 1936, the team finished 2nd in Division 2 in 1938 and advanced to the main league of the Soviet Georgian championship.

In 1958, they claimed their first bronze medals. In the next two years Mertskhali twice clinched the Republican Cup. Also, in 1964 and 1966 the club again came the third, and in 1967 became a winner of the league, which paved the way for their participation in the Soviet championship.

Mertskhali played there for seven consecutive seasons and later, in the 1980s, spent five more years in the third tier of the Soviet league system. Twice they came close to the promotion to the First League, including through a promotion play-off spot secured in 1985.{{cite web |title=Mertskhali in Soviet second league |url=http://wildstat.com/p/2096/club/URS_Mertshali_Maharadze |publisher=wildstat.com}}

The period between 1982 and 1987, when the team under long-time manager Bakhva Giorgadze secured five medals, is considered most remarkable in the club's history.{{cite web |title=ოზურგეთის "მერცხალის" დიდი ეპოქა დასრულდა |url=http://guriismoambe.com/archives/8033 |website=guriismoambe.com (in Georgian), 4 January 2021}}

After Georgia restored its independence, the club played in Umaglesi Liga during the first three seasons after 1990 and also in 2003–04. Between 2007 and 2009 Mertskhali participated in the third tier, followed by nine successive seasons in Pirveli Liga. Most noteworthy among them was the 2011–12 season when they finished 2nd and booked a place in promotion play-offs.{{cite web |title=2011-12 play-offs |url=https://int.soccerway.com/national/georgia/play-offs-12/2011-2012/promotionrelegation-round/r15038/ |publisher=soccerway.com}}

For the next three years the club was mainly in mid-table, although dismal performance in the 2015–16 season resulted in relegation to Meore Liga. Prior to the new season drastic changes were made, including appointment of well-known coach Khariton Chkhatarashvili as a manager.{{cite web |title=ხარიტონ ჩხატარაშვილი: ვერ გაართვეს დაკისრებულ მოვალეობებს თავი |url=https://gurianews.com/40691/ |website=gurianews.com (in Georgian), 25 July 2016}} He guided the team to the second place, but according to regulations introduced for this transitional season, only group winners could stay up. For this reason Mertskhali dropped down further to the fourth division, thus suffering two consecutive relegations within two years. It worsened the financial situation as well. The club was proposed for sale in early 2019,{{cite news |title=ოზურგეთის მერცხალი შესაძლოა გაიყიდოს |url=https://www.crystalsport.ge/news/13696 |website=crystalsport.ge (in Georgian), 3 March 2019}} although unsuccessfully.

Mertskhali's tenure in the regional league lasted seven years before the club won 21 out of 24 matches, finished their league campaign on top of the table and advanced to Liga 4.{{cite web |title=ოზურგეთის "მერცხალმა" მორიგი გამარჯვება მოიპოვა! |url=http://alion.ge/2023/11/%e1%83%9d%e1%83%96%e1%83%a3%e1%83%a0%e1%83%92%e1%83%94%e1%83%97%e1%83%98%e1%83%a1-%e1%83%9b%e1%83%94%e1%83%a0%e1%83%aa%e1%83%ae%e1%83%90%e1%83%9a%e1%83%9b%e1%83%90-%e1%83%9b%e1%83%9d/ |website=alion.ge (in Georgian) |date=15 November 2023}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no=1 |nat=Georgia|pos=GK|name=Dato Mujiri}}

{{Fs player|no=2 |nat=Georgia|pos=DF|name=Nodar Surguladze}}

{{Fs player|no=3 |nat=Georgia|pos=DF|name=Gocha Paichadze}}

{{Fs player|no=4 |nat=Georgia|pos=DF|name=Kakha Mujiri}}

{{Fs player|no=5 |nat=Georgia|pos=DF|name=Nikoloz Marshanishvili}}

{{Fs player|no=6 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Lasha Kotrikadze}}

{{Fs player|no=7 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Giorgi Chanukvadze}} (C)

{{Fs player|no=8 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Lasha Tsertsvadze}}

{{Fs player|no=9 |nat=Georgia|pos=FW|name=Tengiz Alievi}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=10 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Giorgi Gogelia}}

{{Fs player|no=11 |nat=Georgia|pos=FW|name=Davit Bolkvadze}}

{{Fs player|no=13 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Lasha Antidze}}(C)

{{Fs player|no=14 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Elguja Chkhaidze}}

{{Fs player|no=15 |nat=Georgia|pos=FW|name=Giorgi Kashia}}

{{Fs player|no=16 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Dimitri Japaridze}}

{{Fs player|no=17 |nat=Georgia|pos=DF|name=Nodar Machavariani}}

{{Fs player|no=18 |nat=Georgia|pos=GK|name=Dato Mamaladze}}

{{Fs player|no=22 |nat=Georgia|pos=MF|name=Giorgi Gabreliani}}

{{Fs end}}

• Georgian Soviet Championship
• Champion: 1967, 1982, 1987
• Bronze Medal winner: 1958, 1960, 1964, 1966
• Georgian Soviet Cup
• Champion: 1959, 1960, 1982
• Pirveli Liga
• Silver Medal winner: 1994, 2002–03, 2011–12
• Bronze Medal winner: 1997
• Regionuli Liga
• Winner: 2023 (Group C)
• Soviet Second League
• Silver Medal winner: 1984
• Bronze Medal winner: 1968, 1985

National team member Irakli Zoidze started his professional career in this club in 1990.

The Megobroba (literally "Friendship") football ground with the capacity of 10,000 seats was built in 1968,{{cite web |title=როდის დაარსდა ოზურგეთის "მერცხალი" – პირველი ნაბიჯები და წარმატება |url=http://guriismoambe.com/archives/35566 |website=guriismoambe.com (in Georgian), 27 July 2021}} although later after the reconstruction it was reduced to 3,500.

1938-46 Makharadze* district team

1946-47 Dinamo

1947-54 Makharadze district team

1954-59 Kolmeurne

1960 Sikharuli

1961-93 Mertskhali

1993-95 Anako

Note: Makharadze was the Soviet-time name for Ozurgeti.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://us.soccerway.com/teams/georgia/fc-mertskhali-ozurgeti/958/ Profile on Soccerway]

{{Liga 4 teamlist}}

{{Erovnuli Liga teamlist}}

Mertskhali Ozurgeti

Category:Ozurgeti

Category:1936 establishments in Georgia (country)