Kakha Kaladze
Who was Kakha Kaladze?
Former AC Milan and Georgia defender who won the Champions League twice before becoming Mayor of Tbilisi in 2017.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Kakha Kaladze (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Kakhaber "Kakha" Kaladze was born on February 27, 1978, in Samtredia, Georgia. His father played for and later became president of Lokomotiv Samtredia. Kaladze started his professional career at 15, joining Dinamo Tbilisi in 1993. During his five years with the team, he made 82 appearances and showcased his skills as a versatile defender, able to play as a center-back, left-back, and wide midfielder. His talent made him one of Georgia's most promising footballers.
In 1998, Kaladze moved to Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine, where he spent three seasons and played 71 games. His success, including three Ukrainian Premier League titles, drew the attention of AC Milan. He joined the Italian team in 2001 and won two UEFA Champions League titles, one Serie A title, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Between 2001 and 2011, he was named Georgian Footballer of the Year five times due to his club and international performances.
Kaladze played for the Georgian national team from 1996 to 2011, captaining 50 times and earning 84 caps in total. On December 11, 2011, he retired from international football, leaving a lasting impact on Georgian football. Outside of playing, he explored business through his company, Kala Capital, and charity work with the Kala Foundation. He also served as an ambassador for SOS Children's Villages.
After retiring from football, Kaladze joined politics with the Georgian Dream–Democratic Georgia party, founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili. He was elected to the Georgian Parliament in October 2012 and became Deputy Prime Minister. In November 2017, he became the Mayor of Tbilisi, a role he still holds. His shift from sports to politics is notable, making him one of the few former athletes to reach high-level political office in Georgia. He is married to Anouki Areshidze and has four children.
Before Fame
Growing up in Samtredia during the late Soviet era and Georgia's early independence years, Kaladze was surrounded by football thanks to his father's involvement with the local club. With the political turmoil and economic struggles Georgia faced in the 1990s, professional football was one of the few promising ways for young talent to reach international success and financial security.
Kaladze started his professional football career with Dinamo Tbilisi in 1993, a time when Georgian football was undergoing significant changes as the newly independent nation was setting up its own football federation and national team. His quick progress during this foundational period of Georgian football helped him become one of the country's first true international football stars.
Key Achievements
- Won two UEFA Champions League titles with AC Milan
- Served as Mayor of Tbilisi since November 2017
- Captained Georgia national team 50 times in 84 international appearances
- Won Georgian Footballer of the Year award five times (2001-2003, 2006, 2011)
- Successfully transitioned from professional football to high-level political office
Did You Know?
- 01.His brother was kidnapped in a high-profile case in 2001 and officially declared dead in 2006, with two men sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison
- 02.He attended Tbilisi State University while pursuing his football career
- 03.He was awarded the Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali, one of Georgia's highest honors
- 04.He started his professional career at age 15 with Dinamo Tbilisi in 1993
- 05.He won a total of nine major league titles across three different countries: five in Georgia, three in Ukraine, and one in Italy
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali | — | — |