Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia’s last act under Willy Sagnol ended in frustration from the penalty spot. Within hours of Georgia’s 1-0 Nations League defeat to Northern Ireland on Friday, the Paris Saint-Germain winger was paying a far warmer tribute to the French coach whose time in charge of the national team has now come to an end.
Sagnol has been dismissed as Georgia head coach after a spell that delivered the greatest landmark in the country’s modern football history: qualification for Euro 2024. The decision followed a difficult run, with disappointing World Cup qualifying results also weighing heavily against the former France international.
Georgia captain Kvaratskhelia, who missed a penalty in the defeat by Northern Ireland in what proved to be Sagnol’s final match, posted a lengthy Instagram message thanking his departing manager and wishing him success in his next job.
Kvaratskhelia remembers a historic Euro journey
The PSG forward looked beyond the painful final result and back to the campaign that took Georgia to their first major international tournament.
“Thank you, Willy,” Kvaratskhelia wrote, adding that he wished Sagnol “every success for the future.”
He recalled the scale of the achievement shared by the squad and the country: “My team-mates and I fulfilled a childhood dream by taking our country to the European Championship. We did it together and became part of history.”
Kvaratskhelia also underlined the emotional connection built during Sagnol’s tenure, saying the celebrations with Georgian supporters would remain a particularly special memory. He offered personal gratitude for their time working together over the years.
A difficult ending for the French coach
Sagnol’s departure brings a sharp close to a period defined by both a historic peak and a troubled finish. Georgia’s Euro 2024 qualification gave the nation a place on one of football’s biggest stages, but the recent campaign has not maintained that momentum.
The 0-1 loss to Northern Ireland in the Nations League was the final setback. Kvaratskhelia’s missed spot-kick was a cruel detail on the night, while Georgia’s underwhelming World Cup qualifying form had already increased the pressure around Sagnol’s position.
For Kvaratskhelia, now carrying Georgia’s captaincy alongside his Ligue 1 responsibilities with PSG, the farewell was centred on the achievement rather than the bitter ending. Sagnol leaves with the enduring credit of guiding Georgia into Euro 2024 and creating memories his captain believes will last.
