Temuri Ketsbaia’s frustration

A refugee of war, the Georgian earned a move to England – and is best remembered for booting an advertising hoarding

You grew up in the days of the old Soviet Union – did that motivate you to take up a career in football?

My father was a driver in the USSR, while my mother worked in the hospital restaurant in Tbilisi. In those days, there was only one level everyone could really work at, and when my father was injured we had to rely on money from the state to get by. So for me, I always saw football as a way to bring in money and help my family enjoy a better life. When the Soviet Union split up, my family had to leave Abkhazia when the fighting broke out. We’ve been refugees ever since. We’ve never been able to return home.

How significant a role did football play in your upbringing?

It was the only sport I played. It was always football, football, football. I could have got into judo, wrestling and rugby, but they didn’t hold too much appeal. I can’t say I ever really liked wrestling – far too much contact for me! Dinamo Tbilisi were still in the Soviet League when you broke into the senior team – how strong was that division?

I would say it was the strongest one in Europe. Think how many countries made up the USSR; it was like an international fixture every week. The distances we had to travel were huge. The nearest match was probably a two-hour flight away. When we played in Kazakhstan, we had to be on a plane for four hours! The strength of those sides was unbelievable. I played for the Soviet Union Under-21 team, but I didn’t play for the full side. Dinamo Tbilisi were a brilliant team back then. Although sides from Russia and Ukraine were maybe the strongest, Tbilisi were always competitive.

Did you watch English football growing up? It was a very closed society, so we hardly saw any European football. I remember watching Dinamo Tbilisi play Liverpool in the 1979-80 European Cup when I was 10 or 11 years old. We lost the first game 2-1 at Anfield, but then we thrashed them 3-0 at home. It was on TV and the whole country was watching. It was the first time I’d ever seen players like Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness, and it was so exciting. To take on and beat Liverpool in the European Cup was unbelievable.

How did it feel when Georgia was granted its independence?

It was amazing. It was a new era, not just for us but for all the countries that used to make up the Soviet Union. It gave us the chance to live our lives the way we are living them now. You left to join the Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta in 1992. Were you excited to go and play in an overseas league?

Of course. I was pretty young at the time, but I would never have gone had the Soviet Union not split. I would have had to spend my whole career in Georgia, as you weren’t allowed to leave until you were 34 or 35. Then you could spend perhaps two years outside the country before coming back.

How proud were you to run out for Georgia against England in qualifying games for the 1998 World Cup?

Incredibly. We lost both matches 2-0, but for England to come to Tbilisi was a really special moment. At that time, England were probably one of the biggest national sides to play there. I think there were 50,000 people watching and we played so well. I joined Newcastle shortly after the away match at Wembley.

What was it like walking into the Newcastle dressing room for the first time?

It was unreal. Suddenly, instead of watching Kenny Dalglish on a black and white TV, I was playing for him at Newcastle! When I arrived, I went over to the Metrocentre in the city to buy some new football boots. Then I was told that all my boots would be free from now on! I started well, too. In fact, I scored the goal that brought Newcastle Champions League football for the first time.

Talk us through it...

I’d come on as a substitute in the second leg at Croatia

Zagreb, about 10 minutes into extra time. We were

2-1 down, after they had scored in the 92nd minute.

I just remember the ball hitting the back of the net and the whole stadium falling silent. It was incredible. Mind you, it wasn’t all good news – I didn’t have a Champions League bonus written into my contract, so the club took back the £100,000 that the rest of the players were given!

I didn’t mind, though. I was playing for one of the best clubs in England and the whole thing felt like a dream.

Should Newcastle have won a trophy during your time there?

I think so. The league was always going to be hard, because Arsenal and Manchester United were both such fantastic sides at the time. But maybe the FA Cup, I think. We got to Wembley three times during that period and lost every time – the FA Cup finals in 1998 and 1999 and the semi-final in 2000. I think if we’d got past Chelsea in the semi, we would have won the final against Aston Villa. But we’ll never know. You’re best remembered for the crazy goal celebration against Bolton in 1998, when you angrily kicked an advertising hoarding after coming on as a substitute and scoring a 90th-minute winner. Was that planned? You can’t plan things like that! [Laughs] When you’re at Newcastle, you don’t want to be sat in the stands or on the bench. You want to be out on the field. I was so frustrated and it all came out at that moment. It’s a shame more people don’t remember the goal, though. It was a good one – important, too!

Were you sad to leave Newcastle in 2000? Definitely, I loved Newcastle and the fans. It’s a brilliant club. There’s so much passion there. But I went to Wolves, who were very similar in many ways. The supporters were amazing, but it was a frustrating time there as the manager kept changing. We started well, but it was like a revolving door. I was playing well under one manager, but then a new one came in with his own ideas. After that I went to Dundee, which I loved. I was appreciated there. I really loved the city and I loved Scotland. We played some good football and people trusted me.

Did you always plan to become a manager? I had a serious injury at the end of my career. I still had one year on my contract at Dundee, but I snapped my cruciate ligament while on international duty. I didn’t think the weather in Scotland would help my recovery, so I went to Cyprus to become a player-coach.

You’ve enjoyed success in Cyprus, winning the league twice at Anorthosis Famagusta. But in Greece you lasted only six games at Olympiacos and seven at AEK Athens. Why? In Greece, it’s very difficult. It’s almost like if you are from a country such as Georgia, you have two heads! They always look to employ coaches from Spain, Portugal, Germany or England. Clubs always seemed to be looking for an excuse to get rid of me. In Cyprus, I’ve taken Famagusta into the Champions League, where we played teams like Inter. Incredible. Now I’m back at the club for a second spell and we’ve been doing well again. Would you like to have the opportunity to manage in the Premier League one day?

Of course, who wouldn’t? [Laughs] But I’m not someone who sits at the table and moans into a cup of coffee. I’m in Cyprus at the moment. I’ve been working really hard and giving my current job absolutely everything.