Georgi Kinkladze

Georgi Kinkladze (born June 7, 1973 in Tbilisi, USSR) is a Georgian football (soccer) midfielder. His nickname was 'Kinky'.

After playing with Dinamo Tbilisi and then Saarbrücken on loan, Kinkladze came to prominence after signing with Manchester City in 1995. His performance for his national team against Wales national football team was attributed to be the reason Manchester City F.C. were interested in him. Kinkladze was an immensely gifted, if somewhat inconsistent player. He became a favourite of the City fans (rivaling the Maine Road legend Colin Bell) and scored 22 goals in 120 appearances. One of his most famous goals was against Southampton F.C. when City were still in the premiership and he beat several Southampton players to score. However Kinkladze could not save the club from two relegations. He left the club following City's relegation to the then Second Division, being sold to Ajax Amsterdam for £5 million.

He subsequently had a spell at Derby County, making 65 appearances and scoring 8 goals. Something of a fans' favourite, Kinkladze won the Player of the Year award in his final season at the Pride Park club in 2002/03.

Kinkladze has been capped 50 times for the Georgian national team.

In the year 2004/2005 he was signed by the Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta, where his compatriot Temuri Ketsbaia has the role of player/manager. After helping Anorthosis win the Cypriot championship, his contract came to an end, but Famagusta managed to extend it for another year. He played in Famagusta's Champions League qualifying matches against Rangers before leaving for Russian club Rubin Kazan, where he currently plays.

A recent book 'Perfect 10' was released tellin Kinkladze's story from Georgia to Cyprus via Manchester City and Derby County.