Murtaz Khurtsilava

Murtaz Khurtsilava, born on January fifth, nineteen forty-three, is a distinguished Georgian former footballer who made his mark as a defender. His journey began in the small town of Gegechkori, now known as Martvili, where he honed his skills playing with a makeshift ball crafted from hay and rags in a school garden.

Throughout his illustrious career, Khurtsilava was a key player for the USSR national team, contributing to their impressive fourth-place finish at the nineteen sixty-six FIFA World Cup. He also played a pivotal role in securing third place at the nineteen seventy-two Summer Olympics and a remarkable second place in the nineteen seventy-two UEFA European Championship. His exceptional performance during the Euro tournament earned him a spot in the team of the tournament alongside legends like Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller.

Notably, Khurtsilava stands out as one of only two Georgians, alongside Alexandre Chivadze, to have captained the Soviet Union national team. At the club level, he showcased his talents with Dinamo Tbilisi, where he left a lasting legacy.

After retiring from professional football in nineteen seventy-seven, Khurtsilava transitioned into the business world in Tbilisi, where he currently resides with his family. His contributions to football were recognized in November two thousand three when he was honored as the Golden Player of Georgia by the Georgian Football Federation, celebrating him as the most outstanding player of the past fifty years.