Thespence Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Anorthosis Famagusta FC coach Temur Ketsbaia is not only idolised by his club's fans but also by thousands of football lovers throughout Cyprus. Tonight, for his latest trick, he intends to complete a UEFA Cup second qualifying round victory against Romania's ambitious CFR 1907 Cluj. Coaching passion In June, the 38-year-old striker from Georgian province Abkhazia ended his playing career and his club paid tribute with a well-attended testimonial at their Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium. The passionate Ketsbaia admitted he would miss playing, but having already tasted success as a coach was ready to take up management full time. "Of course I miss playing but what can you do?" Ketsbaia told uefa.com. "However, the joy of being on the pitch is usually eclipsed by the success you have as a coach so that keeps me going. I have been lucky in my career to be a successful player and win trophies and I am now hoping to also be successful as a coach and win more trophies with Anorthosis." Playing career Cyprus, and specifically Anorthosis, have long been part of Ketsbaia's life. Making his breakthrough as a teenager with FC Dinamo Tbilisi, he moved to Anorthosis in 1992 and in two seasons averaged nearly a goal every two games. AEK Athens FC soon signed him and he tasted Greek Cup success in the Greek capital in 1995. His profile rose a notch in 1997 when he joined Newcastle United FC and there he became a cult hero with fans, especially on the day his frustration at being used as a substitute boiled over against Bolton Wanderers FC, when he set off on a bizarre goal celebration during which he threw most of his kit into the crowd and assaulted an advertising hoarding. Spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Dundee FC preceded a 2002 return to Anorthosis. Anorthosis success In January 2004 he was made player-manager, and Ketsbaia proved a success as a summer overhaul led to a league title in his first full season in charge. Even better, there was a famous defeat of Turkish side Trabzonspor in the subsequent UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, arguably the greatest ever Cypriot result in Europe. "That memory has to stand out above the rest although other fond memories of mine include the national titles and cups we have won in recent years," said Ketsbaia. UEFA Cup run The list of memories was added to last season when Anorthosis won their tenth Cypriot Cup, earning them a run in the UEFA Cup. After accounting for FK Vardar and then beating Cluj 3-1 in Romania a fortnight ago, Ketsbaia's side are now a short step away from tomorrow's first-round draw. That is just one tie from the group stage, but the coach remains cautious. "Although we have the advantage against Cluj, the tie is not over. And apart from that, we know that we will be playing against another difficult team from a superior league in the next round. It is therefore far too soon to be even be thinking about the group stage." http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=574961.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliemort Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Good luck to the lad would love to see him back at st.james alongside Shearer,Lee,Keegan and Nobby!I know.....but I can dream! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzieMandias Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Good for him! I always liked The Loon, even though he wasn't really good enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Top man. I remember going to an FA Cup 3rd Round replay at Villa Park... under SBR I think it was......lost 1-0...... Ketsbaia was in the row behind me. Proved that he had affection for the club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheFunk Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 still trying to get that interview with old temuri!! i promise i will try even harder! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Quality video of him called "Temuri Ketsbaia - Georgian Geordie" on either youtube or shearer9.com - I can't remember which. Brilliant memories (of slightly bizarre occurances!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 I remember that celebration v Bolton. Top lad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I'm in Cyprus at the minute,in the 50's...... Cracking trip for spurs like. Famagustas stadium is only about 15 mins from where i am staying Ketspia is in all the local papers commenting about the game,mentioning ' Why they could cause an upset' Come on the ghost town of Famagusta Going on one of the excursions tomorrow there...might see the man himself Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nufc_geordie Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I'm in Cyprus at the minute,in the 50's...... Cracking trip for spurs like. Famagustas stadium is only about 15 mins from where i am staying Ketspia is in all the local papers commenting about the game,mentioning ' Why they could cause an upset' Come on the ghost town of Famagusta Going on one of the excursions tomorrow there...might see the man himself What's sad is that you're on holiday and you're on here still- get a life! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemmy Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Star player, absolutely commited and mental when with us. Good luck to him Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChezGiven Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Has he ever been half-time hero? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sniffer Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Never doubted his attitude or comittment to the Toon. But you could say the same thing about Peter Ramage and get slagged off. There is not much difference between either of them tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Nah, Ketsbaia was class on FIFA99. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mr quimbys beard Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Good luck to him and his team.You never knew what he was gonna do next when he played for the Toon, great passion though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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