Mikheil Kavelashvili has become president of Georgia in what the opposition calls a blow to the country's EU aspirations and a victory for Russia.

“It could be argued that Kavelashvili spent most of his time at City facing in the wrong direction, just as he now seems to be doing as the prospective Russia-apologist leader of Georgia,” says Simon Curtis, a City fan, writer and author.

Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former football player and member of the Georgian Dream party, was elected president of Georgia on Saturday, marking a significant political shift in the South Caucasus nation.

Former football star and far-right politician Mikheil Kavelashvili was appointed Georgia’s new president as political tensions reached an all-time high

The former Georgian footballer is known for his expletive-laden parliament speeches and tirades against government critics and LGBTQ people.

A former Manchester City footballer has been elected as the new President of Georgia. Mikheil Kavelashvili won the vote in the country's Parliament. It's seen two weeks of protests over claims of Russian interference in October's election.

Born in Bolnisi, Soviet Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili rose through Dinamo Tbilisi ranks and made 46 appearances for the national team, scoring nine goals

Former football player Mikheil Kavelashvili became the president of Georgia on Saturday. Kavelashvili, 53, easily won the vote given the Georgian Dream party's control of a 300-seat electoral college that replaced direct presidential elections in 2017.

Former Manchester City player Mikheil Kavelashvili becomes president of Georgia, as the ruling party tightened its grip in what the opposition calls a blow to the country's EU aspirations and a victory for former imperial ruler Russia.

Georgian ex-footballer turned far-right politician Mikheil Kavelashvili is set to become Tbilisi's next figurehead president in an indirect election denounced as "illegitimate" by the current pro-EU leader.