Sport

A former Manchester City player has been sworn in as the new president of Georgia

We don't do much politics but it's hard to ignore this bizarre turn of events.

Danny Jones - 2nd January 2025

The country of Georgia is currently wrapped up more than 30 days of civil unrest and in the midst of it all is their new President, who also happens to be a former Manchester City player.

Yes, having been sworn into office on Sunday, 29 December, ex-Man City forward Mikheil Kavelashvili is now the President of the Eastern European nation, though the role is more of a ceremonial head of state.

Kavelashvili, now 53, only spent a fairly short spell at the club between 1996 and 1997, which was also their first year in the old First Division (now known as the Championship) after being relegated from the Premier League.

Kavelashvili is one of just four Georgian players to ever represent City, including Georgi Kinladze, Murtaz Shelia and Kakhaber Tskhadadze.

The former Man City man was appointed the President of Georgia last week.

The striker only made 28 appearances for the Blues in total, netting just three goals, but one of those did come against United in the Manchester derby towards the latter end of the 95/96 season. Fast forward about 30 years and now he’s a political figurehead.

All that being said, his appointment hasn’t exactly been a welcome one and for many, he isn’t even considered a legitimate choice for the job.

Serious protests over problematic politics

Kavelashvili is a former MP as well as a retired professional footballer but, as you can see in the video above, the ex-Man City player isn’t seen as a proper politician by a good chunk of the Georgian population.

For starters, outgoing president Salome Zourabichvili has technically refused to step down and although she has now left the presidential residence, she gave a defiant speech claiming she is still the “only legitimate president”.

As mentioned, the Prime Minister and the ruling party hold most of the real power given that its constitution is that of a parliamentary republic with separation between the two leading roles.

Kavelashvili was selected by said ruling party, Georgian Dream, but the decision has been boycotted by the four main opposition groups and the vast majority of the nation. Not only is he seen as an insufficiently qualified pick but allegations of election fraud and ‘EU-turning’ have sparked outrage.

Oddly enough, he’s not even the first former Man City player to turn his hand to politics, as one-time left-winger and forward George Weah was also elected the President of Liberia back in 2017, before ultimately conceding power as a much less popular figure than he started by November 2023.

What is it about Man City and politics?

George Weah (former) president of Liberia, and now, Mikheil Kavelashvili, president of Georgia.

What next? Jack Grealish UK prime minister in 2040? pic.twitter.com/o7ozt6LBUw
— Kirkby (@tranmerekev) December 29, 2024

With New Year’s morning marking 34 consecutive days of protests, the people claim Georgian Dream rigged the parliamentary elections and are trying to distance themselves from the West.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also announced that Georgia’s application to the European Union would be delayed by another four years, meaning it won’t be until 2028 that negotiations with the continental governing body can even begin, despite being stated as a goal of their revised constitution since 2017.

As per Reuters, Kobakhidze claims that EU membership could damage Georgia’s economy but the overwhelming consensus and concern among the Caucasus is that the far-right associated party are looking to strengthen ties with Russia, who still control about 20% of Georgian territory.

Protests, both peaceful and violent, continue to rage on across Georgia and by whatever strange butterfly effect, a larger forgotten former Man City player who scored just a handful of goals in one has found himself the president at the heart of it all.

Perhaps this particular demonstration in the capital of Tbilisi sums up the general sentiment towards him:

People are holding up red cards for Mikheil Kavelashvili, former football player, who Georgian Dream now inaugurates as president. pic.twitter.com/G7poS9FIik
— Mariam Nikuradze (@mari_nikuradze) December 29, 2024