Giorgi Makaridze

Giorgi Makaridze (გიორგი მაკარიძე, ; born 31 March 1990) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Portuguese Liga 3 club Sporting da Covilhã.

He previously played for Dinamo Tbilisi, Le Mans, Doxa Katokopia, Feirense, Moreirense, F.C Rio Ave and Almería.

Club career
Born in Tbilisi, Makaridze began his career in the Dinamo Tbilisi academy, afterwards moving to Le Mans UC72 on January 10, 2009, for €800,000 on a four-year contract worth €85,000.

In April 2014, he would leave Le Mans for Doxa Katokopia, but would never play a single game for the Cypriot club, leaving them for Feirense in Portugal, who were in Segunda Division Portugal at the time, playing 54 games. After getting promoted to Liga Nos, Makaridze joined Moreirense, playing 33 games and winning the 2017 Taça da Liga with them. In 2018 there was a rumor that Makaridze would join Benfica, but this move would never materialise, and instead he signed with Rio Ave. He would later agree to mutually terminate his contract with them, joining Vitoria FC in January of the same season.

On 12 September 2020, Makaridze moved away from the Portuguese league to sign a two-year contract with Segunda División side UD Almería. He was released by the club on 3 June 2022 as his contract was due to expire, and joined SD Ponferradina on 4 July.

On 9 January 2023, after being mainly a backup to Amir Abedzadeh, Makaridze left Ponfe.

On 11 January 2023, Makaridze signed a year-and-a-half contract with Marítimo in Portugal. On 27 July 2023, Marítimo announced that Makaridze's contract had been terminated by mutual agreement.

On 8 February 2024, Makaridze joined Portuguese Liga 3 side Sporting da Covilhã.

International career
Giorgi Makaridze was a member of Georgia U17 team and played 10 games there. He also participated in Georgia U19 (played 8 games) and Georgia U21 (played 9 games). At age of 17, Makaridze established himself as a great prospect and starter for the Georgia national football team along with other teenagers such as Levan Kenia and Levan Mchedlidze. Currently he has played 14 games in Georgian National Football Team.

Club

 * Moreirense
 * Taça da Liga: 2016–17


 * Almería
 * Segunda División: 2021–22

Individual

 * Segunda Liga Best Goalkeeper: 2015–16