Serhiy Hivivych Koridze is a Ukrainian football born 6th December 1970 in the southern port city of Odessa. Although he made very little impact professional Ukrainian football, Koridze established himself as one of Ukrainians finest futsal players, becoming the top scorer for the national side.
Koridze started his football career with local side Chornomorets Odessa, in 1992. The defender played 35 games for the clubs feeder side, Chornomorets-2 in the lower reaches of the Ukrainian football pyramid. His failure to break into the first team squad at Odessa saw him move to Russian provincial side Anzhi Makhachkala in 1994. Although his spell at Anzhi saw him score his first goals in professional football, after 22 appearances for the side, Koridze was lured back to Odessa, joining amateur side Torpedo Odessa. It was upon returning to Odessa that Koridze began to play Futsal, signing for Lokomotiv Odessa.
Briefly, futsal is a variation of 5-side football especially popular in south American countries but also boasting professional leagues across Europe, with a growing amateur following in the UK. The game, which focuses on speed, creativity and improvisation is predominantly played indoors on hard surfaced pitches, with the pitch delaminated by lines; so walls and boards are not used.
Koridze’s relative short and stocky built made him perfect for Futsal and he quickly established himself as a key figure in the Odessa side, playing as the most advanced player in the side in the pivot position. Lokomotive Odessa would win the title in every one of Koridze’s seasons at club, 95/96, 96/97 and 97/98, adding the Ukrianian futsal cup in 1997 and 1998, while also recording a reputable 3rd place finish in the Futsal European Club Championship in 1997. Koridze’s goalscoring for the side was remarkable with the him scoring 126 goals in 77 appearances over 3 seasons, before he moved to Interkas Kyiv for the start of the 1998/99 season.
Koridze’s title winning would continue in Kyiv, as his new team won the league in 1998/99 season and the 99/00 season. Although his 3rd and final season in Kyiv would only muster a Ukrainian Cup win. During his 3 seasons at Interkas, Koridze scored an incredible 151 goals in only 44 appearances, a rate of more then 3 a game earning him the Title of Top Goalscorer in 2 seasons. After his spell in Kyiv, Koridze made a return to Russia, signing for Dina Moscow in 2001. Koridze continued his goal scoring prowess in Moscow adding a further 135 to his tally during a 3 year stay at the club, though was unable to add to his stash of silverware, with Dina’s best performance coming in his last year at the club, as they finished runners-up in the Russian championship.
A move to Spartak Shchelkovo saw Koridze win the Russian Futsal cup in 2005, with further moves to TTG-Yugra Yogorsk in 2008 and KPRF Moscow failing to bring anymore silverware for the Ukrainian. His phenomenal goal scoring ability saw him become a leading member in Konstantyn Eremenko 250 Club Goals Club.
However it is Kordize’s international record which has brought him the most recognition. Koridze was twice a silver medalist as Ukraine ran out runners up of the UEFA Futsal Championship in 2001 and 2003 – tournaments where Kordize was the top scorer. In his 57 appearances for the Ukrainian futsal side, Kordize scored a record 65 goals, helping Ukraine top the world rankings at times in the early 2000s.
Serhiy Koridze Ukraine’s most accomplished futsal player we welcome you into The Viktor Leonenko Hall of Fame.
Serhiy Koridze’s Varenyky Rating
Donetsk Way 