Georges Mikautadze
![]() Mikautadze playing for Metz in 2024 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | (2000-10-31) 31 October 2000 (age 23) | ||
Place of birth | Lyon, France | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Lyon | ||
Number | 69 | ||
Youth career | |||
2007–2008 | FC Gerland | ||
2008–2015 | Lyon | ||
2015–2016 | Saint-Priest | ||
2016–2018 | Metz | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2018–2020 | Metz B | 24 | (9) |
2019–2023 | Metz | 42 | (25) |
2020–2022 | → Seraing (loan) | 49 | (28) |
2023–2024 | Ajax | 6 | (0) |
2024 | → Metz (loan) | 20 | (13) |
2024– | Lyon | 0 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2021– | Georgia | 29 | (13) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:51, 27 June 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:46, 30 June 2024 (UTC) |
Georges Mikautadze (Order of Honor) (Georgian: გიორგი მიქაუტაძე Giorgi Mikaut'adze; born 31 October 2000) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Lyon and the Georgia national team.[1]
Club career
Early career
Mikautadze started taking first steps in football at Gerland before he joined the academy of Olympique Lyonnais. In 2016, he moved to FC Metz's football academy.[2]
Mikautadze made his professional debut with Metz in a 4–1 Ligue 1 loss to Nice on 7 December 2019.[3] On 10 December 2019, he signed his first professional contract with Metz which was a four-year deal.[4] He struggled to make an impact in his first season in France, playing mostly for the reserve team.[5]
Seraing
In June 2020, Mikautadze was one of six Metz players to join Belgian First Division B side Seraing on loan.[6] After his first nine matches with Seraing, he had scored 15 times, including four on his debut against Lommel.[7] Overall, with 19 goals he became a joint topscorer of the season. He netted three goals in an aggregate 6–3 play-off victory over Waasland-Beveren. For his contribution to Seraing's successful league campaign, Mikautadze was named in Team of the Season[8] and was awarded the Métallo d'Or, the title annually given to the best Seraing player, after the fans had voted for him.[9]
On 30 August 2021, he returned to Seraing on another loan, with the club now promoted to the Belgian top tier.[10] The team ended up in the relegation zone, although it remained in the league due to the only goal scored by Mikautadze in the play-offs against Molenbeek.[11]
Metz
In the summer of 2022, Mikautadze returned to Metz. After being a nominee for the award in August, by March 2023 Mikautadze was the leading goalscorer of the league, and the National Union of Professional Players (UNPF) named him Player of the Month.[12] Having added nine more goals in April and May, he was selected in Team of the Week six times in a row during this period.[13] By the end of the season he was the top goalscorer and best player of the league.[14]
With Metz promoted to Ligue 1 in 2023–24, Mikautadze started the new season by scoring twice against Marseille and Clermont and providing an assist in the opening game against Rennes.
Ajax
On 30 August 2023, Eredivisie club Ajax announced the signing of Mikautadze on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €16 million, potentially rising to €19 million with add-ons.[15][16] He made his debut, starting and playing the full game, in a 0–0 draw away at Fortuna Sittard.[17] Mikautadze made his European debut in Ajax's 2–0 defeat against Brighton at the Amsterdam Arena. During the first half of the 2023–24 campaign, Mikautadze made just nine appearances in all competitions for Ajax, failing to score a goal.[18]
Return to Metz
On 4 January 2024, Mikautadze returned to Metz, arriving on loan from Ajax until the end of the 2023–24 season.[19][20] The deal included an option-to-buy, reported to be around €13 million.[18]
He failed to score in his first five games, but then netted ten in as many matches, scoring his first goal since returning to the club in a 2–1 defeat to Lyon as well as a brace in a vital 2–1 win over Lens, another goal against Clermont, a penalty against Nantes, a brace in a 4–3 defeat to Champions League-chasing Brest, the only goal in a 1–0 win over Le Havre, a penalty in a 2–1 defeat to Lille and a lob over Steve Mandanda in a 3–2 defeat against Rennes where Mikautadze got a controversial red card which was overturned by appeal.[21] In mid-April, Get French Football News found it incredible that a player with only 15 appearances in Metz's 29 matches accounted for 30% of the goals scored by the team.[22]
Three times during this season, namely in August, February and April, Mikautadze was voted Player of the Month by Metz fans.[23][24] He eventually concluded the second half of the 2023–24 season by scoring 13 goals in 20 matches; however, his team was relegated following their defeat in the playoffs against Saint-Étienne.[25]
Lyon
On 18 July 2024, despite Metz having reached an agreement with AS Monaco previously, Mikautadze refused to join Monaco and signed for his former club Olympique Lyonnais on a four-year deal, for an initial €18.5 million, which could rise to €23 million in potential add-ons.[26][27]
International career
Mikautadze received a first call-up for the Georgia national team from French coach Willy Sagnol in March 2021. He told the press that he had been dreaming about playing for Georgia since his childhood.[28]
Mikautadze made his debut with the Georgia national team in a 1–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification loss to Sweden on 25 March 2021.[29] In June 2021, he netted his first international goal in a 2–1 away friendly win against Romania.[30] On 12 October 2023, Mikautadze scored four goals, his first international hat-trick and poker, in an 8–0 win against Thailand, the record win of the Georgia national team.[31]
During Georgia's UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, Mikautadze scored three goals in ten matches (including the play-offs), recording two against Cyprus and an equaliser against Norway, contributing to his country's first-ever qualification to a major tournament.[32] He would then be selected in Georgia's 26-man squad for the final tournament in Germany.[33] On 18 June, Mikautadze scored his nation's first goal in the European competition, by netting the equaliser against Turkey in Georgia's opening match, which ended in a 3–1 defeat.[34] Four days later, he scored a penalty in his side's second group match, a 1–1 draw against the Czech Republic.[35] On 26 June, Mikautadze scored another penalty in a 2–0 victory over Portugal, securing his nation's qualification to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams, and concluding the group stage as top scorer in the competition with three goals in total.[36] Following the conclusion of the tournament, Mikautadze finished level with five other players on three goals, and thus shared the top scorer award.[37]
Personal life
The Mikautadze family moved from Georgia to France in the late 1990s. Mikautadze was born and raised in France, visiting Georgia only during summers. His parents taught him the Georgian language, which he speaks with his family.[38][39]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 2 June 2024[40]
Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Metz B | 2018–19 | Championnat National 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | |||
2019–20 | Championnat National 3 | 18 | 8 | — | — | — | 18 | 8 | ||||
Total | 24 | 9 | — | — | — | 24 | 9 | |||||
Metz | 2019–20 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
2020–21 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
2022–23 | Ligue 2 | 37 | 23 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 24 | |||
Total | 39 | 23 | 3 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 41 | 24 | |||
Seraing (loan) | 2020–21 | Belgian First Division B | 21 | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 3 | 24 | 22 | |
2021–22 | Belgian Pro League | 28 | 9 | 3 | 4 | — | 2[c] | 1 | 33 | 14 | ||
Total | 49 | 28 | 4 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 57 | 36 | |||
Ajax | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
Metz (loan) | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 1 | 22 | 14 | |
Lyon | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
Career total | 138 | 76 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 154 | 83 |
- ^ Includes Coupe de France, Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup
- ^ Appearances in Belgian First Division B promotion play-off
- ^ Appearances in Belgian Pro League relegation play-off
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearances in Ligue 1 relegation/promotion play-offs
International
- As of match played 30 June 2024[41]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Georgia | 2021 | 7 | 1 |
2022 | 6 | 1 | |
2023 | 9 | 7 | |
2024 | 7 | 4 | |
Total | 29 | 13 |
- Scores and results list Georgia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mikautadze goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 June 2021 | Ilie Oană Stadium, Ploiești, Romania | ![]() | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
2 | 2 June 2022 | Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia | ![]() | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C |
3 | 28 March 2023 | Batumi Stadium, Batumi, Georgia | ![]() | 1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
4 | 17 June 2023 | AEK Arena, Larnaca, Cyprus | ![]() | 1–0 | 2–1 | |
5 | 12 October 2023 | Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia | ![]() | 3–0 | 8–0 | Friendly |
6 | 4–0 | |||||
7 | 5–0 | |||||
8 | 7–0 | |||||
9 | 15 October 2023 | Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia | ![]() | 4–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
10 | 9 June 2024 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro | ![]() | 2–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
11 | 18 June 2024 | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany | ![]() | 1–1 | 1–3 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
12 | 22 June 2024 | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany | ![]() | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
13 | 26 June 2024 | Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany | ![]() | 2–0 | 2–0 |
Honours
Individual
- Ligue 2 Player of the Year: 2022–23[42]
- UNFP Ligue 2 Team of the Year: 2022–23[43]
- UEFA European Championship top scorer: 2024 (shared)[44]
References
- ^ Thyssen, Emmanuel (2024-06-18). "Natia et Lasha Mikautadze sont des parents comblés: "Georges est une fierté pour notre famille, en France et en Géorgie"". DHnet (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "მეცმა" ქართველთან კონტრაქტი გააფორმა - მიქაუტაძე ლოთარინგიაში სამი წელი ითამაშებს". 1tv.ge (in Georgian). 11 Dec 2019.
- ^ "Nice vs. Metz - 7 December 2019 - Soccerway". Soccerway.
- ^ "Metz : Georges Mikautadze passe professionnel - Foot - L1 - Metz". L'Équipe.
- ^ "FC Metz Amid interest from the Premier League, set a price tag". FootballExpress.in. 13 May 2023.
- ^ "Metz send 6 players on loan to Belgian 2nd division side & satellite club Seraing". getfootballnewsfrance.com. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Maak kennis met Georges Mikautadze: het doelpuntenfenomeen in 1B". sporza.be (in Dutch). 13 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ "D1B Pro League 'XI van het seizoen' // SPITS (2) // Georges Mikautadze (Seraing)" [D1B Pro League 'XI of the season' // STRIKER (2) // Georges Mikautadze (Seraing)]. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Georges Mikautadze reçoit le titre de Métallo d'Or" (in French). 17 April 2021.
- ^ "MERCATO : GEORGES IS BACK" (in French). Seraing. 30 August 2021.
- ^ "Molenbeek vs Seraing". fotmob.com. 23 April 2022.
- ^ "GEORGES MIKAUTADZE SACRÉ EN LIGUE 2 BKT" (in French). UNPF. 18 April 2023.
- ^ "მიქაუტაძე და დავითაშვილი ლიგა 2-ის ტურის სიმბოლურში ისევ ერთად მოხვდნენ". europop.ge (in Georgian). 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "Trophées UNFP: Palmarès des meilleurs joueurs" (in French). ligue2.fr. 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Ajax signs Mikautadze". ajax.nl. 30 August 2023.
- ^ Pietrzela, Andrea (30 August 2023). "Mikautadze all'Ajax, è ufficiale: contratto fino al 2028". Goal.com (in Italian). Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "Fortuna Sittard 0-0 Ajax - Eredivisie 2023/2024 Live".
- ^ a b "Ajax announce Georges Mikautadze departure". OneFootball. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Le roi est de retour!" [The king is back!] (in French). FC Metz. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Georges Mikautadze on loan to FC Metz". AFC Ajax. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "Mikautadze double boosts Metz in relegation fight". Associated Press. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "GEORGES MIKAUTADZE – FROM AJAX OUTCAST TO METZ'S SAVIOUR?". getfootballnewsfrance.com. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ^ "Georges Mikautadze Grenat du mois de février Equipe Pro" (in French). FC Metz. 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ "Georges Mikautadze Grenat du mois d'avril". fcmetz.com (in French). 4 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ Matchett, Karl (17 June 2024). "Georgia's best chance to cause a Euro 2024 upset isn't Khvicha Kvaratskhelia". The Independent.
- ^ "TRANSFERTS - L'AS Monaco est hors-piste, l'OL attend Georges Mikautadze dès ce mardi". Eurosport (in French). 15 July 2024.
- ^ "GEORGES MIKAUTADZE DE RETOUR À L'OL JUSQU'EN 2028". Olympique Lyonnais (in French). 18 July 2024.
- ^ "მიქაუტაძე: ჩემი ქვეყნის ნაკრების ღირსების დაცვაზე ბავშვობიდან ვოცნებობდი". sportall.ge (in Georgian). 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Match Report of Sweden vs Georgia - 2021-03-25 - WC Qualification". Global Sports Archive. 25 Mar 2021. Retrieved 26 Mar 2021.
- ^ "Romania vs Georgia". EUROSPORT. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Mikautadze s'offre un quadruplé face à la Thaïlande dans une victoire historique". So Foot (in French). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ Davis, Krishan (17 June 2024). "How the hell have Georgia qualified for Euro 2024?! 'Kvaradona' & Co out to cause more shocks on tournament debut". Goal.com.
- ^ "საქართველოს ნაკრების შემადგენლობა ევრო 2024-ის მოსამზადებელ ეტაპზე" [The composition of the Georgian national team at the preparatory stage of Euro 2024] (in Georgian). Georgian Football Federation. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
- ^ Harris, Daniel (18 June 2024). "Turkey 3-1 Georgia: Euro 2024 – live reaction". The Guardian.
- ^ Fisher, Ben (22 June 2024). "Mikautadze and Georgia denied historic victory as Schick saves Czech Republic". The Observer. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Georges Mikautadze goes out on his own in EURO 2024 Alipay+ Top Scorer race". UEFA. 26 June 2024.
- ^ "EURO 2024 Alipay+ Top Scorers: Gakpo, Kane, Mikautadze, Musiala, Olmo, Schranz". UEFA. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "საქართველო ევროპაზე - გიორგი მიქაუტაძის ცხოვრების სულ სხვა ეპიზოდები". tvpirveli.ge (in Georgian). TV Pirveli. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Thyssen, Emmanuel (2024-06-18). "Natia et Lasha Mikautadze sont des parents comblés: "Georges est une fierté pour notre famille, en France et en Géorgie"". DHnet (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ Georges Mikautadze at Soccerway
- ^ Georges Mikautadze at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ "Trophées UNFP. Le Messin Georges Mikautadze élu meilleur joueur de Ligue 2". ouest-france.fr (in French). 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Ligue 2 : Arouna Sangante dans l'équipe type de la saison". Wiwsport.com (in French). 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ "UEFA EURO 2024 Top Goalscorer". UEFA. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
External links
- Georges Mikautadze – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
- Georges Mikautadze at Soccerway
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