FC Dila Gori

History

In the Soviet leagues

Founded in 1949, the club was named after poem "Dila" (literally - morning) written by Joseph Stalin, who was born in the city and spent his youth there.

Until 1961, they played under the name Dinamo Gori in Group A of Georgian republican championship. Following the second place in 1965, the next year Dila took part in the Soviet third league and despite an unbeaten run at home, finished 11th among 20 clubs in zone 4, Group B.

In 1969, Dila won the competition among the Caucasian teams. The club played several seasons in zone 4 of the Soviet Second League and after 1979 moved to zone 9 where Transcaucasia was represented. In 1967, 1974, and 1986, Dila reached the 3rd place which was their best result in the Soviet third division.

In Georgian leagues

In 1990, Georgia formed an independent league, which included all clubs from the first three Soviet football divisions. Before 2000, Dila were an average team sitting in mid-table, but in the second decade their performance deteriorated. Although most of the seasons Dila participated in the top league, twice they were relegated to Liga 2 and once to Liga 3.

In 2010, the rise started with Dila gaining two consecutive promotions within two years. In 2012 the club clinched their first title after winning the Georgian Cup and during the next five seasons four times represented Georgia in qualifying rounds of UEFA club competitions, including the Champions League. Also, twice in a row Dila participated in Europa League play-offs. During this period, they were reinforced by national team members Nukri Revishvili, Giorgi Navalovski, Otar Martsvaladze and Mate Vatsadze.

Dila won their first top-tier medals in 2013. With a single point in the starting four matches the club seemed an unlikely candidate for trophies, but later they produced an eleven-game winning run, beating all league opponents one after another, and ended up in the second place.

The club achieved their biggest success in the 2014/15 season under 25-year-old head coach Ucha Sosiashvili. Dila, whose squad included experienced players Aleksandre Kvakhadze, Irakli Modebadze and Nika Kvekveskiri, entered the title race in an early stage and concluded the season with six points clear from their two immediate rivals. Forward Irakli Modebadze became a league topscorer with 16 goals.

Facing some financial difficulties, FC Dila as a municipal property was sold at a public auction the next year. As a result, Israeli business group Starsportinvest took charge of the club in October 2016.

For three consecutive seasons starting from 2020 Dila emerged victorious from long tight contests over the league bronze medals. In 2023, they finished on equal points with Torpedo but missed out on the 3rd place due to disadvantage in head-to-head statistics only. A year later, the team sitting on top of the table at half season closed in on achieving their best result in ten years. However, they first squandered the lead and eventually, after suffering a narrow home defeat on the final day of the season, slumped to 3rd.

In 2025, Dila secured their first title in ten years after convincing victories over the league champions and cup holders in a four-team Super cup tournament. They also claimed the national cup for the second time in history. Dila nearly missed out on the top league spot, but still concluded the season on a positive mood with two trophies in a single year.

Seasons

:{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center" |- ! Season ! Div. ! Pos. ! Pl. ! W ! D ! L ! GF ! GA ! P ! Cup ! Europe |- |1990 |Round of 8 | |- |1991 |Round of 8 | |- |1991–92 | Round of 16 | |- |1992–93 | Round of 8 | |- |1993–94 | Round of 8 | |- |1994–95 | Round of 8 | |- |1995–96 |Quarter-finals | |- |1996–97 | | |- |1997–98 | |- |1998–99 | Round of 8 | |- |1999–00 |Quarter-finals | |- |2000–01 |Quarter-finals | |- |2001–02 |2nd | Round of 8 | |- |2002–03 | Quarter-finals | |- |2003–04

| |- |2005–06 | Round of 16 | |- |2006–07 | Round of 16 | |- |2007–08 | Quarter-finals | |- |2008–09 |1st, East | – | |- |2009–10 |3rd, East | – | |- |2010–11 |2nd |Round of 16 | |- |2011–12 | |- |2012–13 |Quarter-finals

| |- |2015–16 |Second Round

| |- |2018 |Round of 16 | |- |2019 |Round of 16 | |- |2020 |Quarter-finals |

| |- |2025 ||Conference League 2Q |}

Notes

European competitions

Dila debuted in UEFA competitions in 2004. Although the club did not obtain an Intertoto Cup slot based on their league position, they replaced a higher placed team, which abstained from the participation. After being held to a goalless draw at home, Marek Dupnitsa beat Dila in the return leg. Later the next decade there were three more cases when the Georgian side achieved relatively better results in away games than back home.

As the cup winners, the team reached Europe League play-offs in 2012. During this campaign Dila eliminated two opponents, including Anorthosis Famagusta, which was further subjected to UEFA sanctions for crowd disturbances occurred during their home game.

Dila similarly prevailed in two rounds of the competition the next year, before their road to the group stage was blocked by Rapid Vienna. The team's performance against Igor Tudor's Hajduk Split was widely hailed this season.

In next four cases the club wrapped up their European seasons after the first round.

;Notes

• 1Q: First qualifying round
• 2Q: Second qualifying round
• 3Q: Third qualifying round
• PO: Play-off round

Fully up to date as of match played 31 July 2025

Stadium

Main article: Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium

The club play their home matches at the Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium, a 5,000 seater football stadium situated in Gori.

Crest and colours

The club's colors are Red and light blue.

Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturers

Current squad

Out on loan

Management

Source

Honours

• Erovnuli Liga
  • Champions: 2014–15
  • Runners-up: 2012–13, 2025
  • Bronze medals: 2015–16, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
• Georgian Cup
  • Winners: 2011–12, 2025
• Georgian Super Cup
  • Winners: 2025
  • Runners-up: 2012, 2015

Managers

Top goalscorers

References

References

1. UEFA.com. (2012-07-31). "Dila Gori hoping to strike gold for Georgia".
2. "1966 Championship".
3. "1969 Championship".
4. (27 May 2012). "გორის "დილა" საქართველოს თასის მფლობელია!".
5. (29 May 2013). "გორის დილას მოვერცხლილი ისტორია". sportall.ge (in Georgian).
6. (March 2025). "Dila and 25-year-old coach claim maiden title".
7. (14 May 2015). "გორის "დილა" საქართველოს ჩემპიონია". liberali.ge (in Georgian).
8. (4 Oct 2016). "გორის "დილა" გაიყიდა". Radio Liberty (in Georgian).
9. (26 October 2016). ""დილას" მეპატრონე: მომავალი სეზონიდან გეყოლებათ გუნდი, რომლითაც იამაყებთ!". sportall.ge (in Georgian).
10. (20 October 2024). ""დილა" პირველ ადგილზე დაბრუნდა".
11. (2 July 2025). "გორის "დილამ" ისტორიაში პირველად საქართველოს სუპერთასი მოიგო (+VIDEO)".
12. (10 December 2025). ""დილამ" სეზონი ორი ტიტულით დაასრულა".
13. "Dila vs Marek".
14. (14 August 2012). "UEFA rules on Anorthosis game".
15. (9 August 2013). "დილა-ჰაიდუკი 1:0 - "ჰაიდუკიც" გაგორდა".
16. "FC Dila Gori squad".