Ex-Georgian international Temuri Ketsbaia has gone down as a Newcastle United cult hero. His winning goal against Bolton Wanderers, where he took his shirt off and kicked the advertising board, is an iconic Premier League moment.
The reason he did that celebration after netting the winner for Newcastle was that he started on the bench. It’s a moment that has defined Ketsbaia. However, the man himself believes he did better things.
Speaking to The Chronicle, the ex-Toon man said: “Every time I meet somebody new, they mention it. I believe I had a better career and did better things than just that celebration.
“That’s why I don’t like talking about it. I played in the Champions League for Newcastle and in the FA Cup final, there are so many better days to talk about than that.”
Ketsbaia certainly has a point, he netted important goals in the FA Cup and Champions League
The Georgian was a big part of the reason Newcastle got into the Champions League. He scored in extra time getting the Magpies into the competition for the first time.
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Additionally, he netted in a 3-1 win against Barnsley in the FA Cup quarter final. This cup run saw the Toon reach the final, just a few months after the Bolton incident.
Ketsbaia was sold to Wolves in 2000 where he played for a season. Following that he made the move to Dundee where again he would play another season.
Anorthosis Famagusta was the final club he would play for. In 2004 he became player-manager of the Cypriot side and then retired from playing in 2007.
He would then go on to manage a number of other teams. These include Olympiacos, Georgia’s national team, APOEL FC, AEK Athens and Orenburg.
In 2019, Ketsbaia would manage Anorthosis Famagusta for the second time. He remains the manager of the club to this day.
The man signed by Kenny Dalgleish certainly has a career that goes beyond the Bolton goal. He scored some important Newcastle goals and has managed a number of clubs since his retirement. So, in many ways, I can see why getting asked about one particular moment across a long career could be frustrating.