Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has paid tribute to Willy Sagnol after the French coach was dismissed from his role as manager of the Georgia national team following a 1-0 home defeat against Northern Ireland in the UEFA Nations League.
Tbilisi Dismissal Follows Nations League Defeat
The decision to relieve Sagnol of his duties arrived the morning after the 1-0 loss in Tbilisi, a match that also featured a missed penalty by Paris Saint-Germain star Kvaratskhelia.
A Historic Milestone at Euro 2024
Sagnol had been in charge of the Georgian national setup since 2021.
During his tenure, he guided the squad affectionately known as “The Crusaders” to a place in the Round of 16 at Euro 2024, where they were eventually eliminated by Spain, the tournament’s eventual winner.
Social Media Farewell From Kvaratskhelia
Reflecting on the departure, Kvaratskhelia took to social media to thank the outgoing head coach for a transformative chapter in Georgian football.
“Thank you, Willy! We have crossed paths through many things together and overcome various difficulties. My teammates and I realized our childhood dream by carrying the name of our country to the European Championship. We achieved this with you and, together, we became the actors of this unforgettable history,” Kvaratskhelia wrote on his social channels.
“This joy and this emotion that we shared with the Georgian people will remain forever an exceptional moment in our history. I want to thank you particularly for this period and for all these years spent together. We will never forget this footballing adventure. I wish you much success for the future. We will meet again,” the forward added.
Federation Closes Out an Unprecedented Era
The coaching change followed the Nations League setback, closing out an era that saw the national team reach heights on the international stage.
