Kvaratskhelia pays tribute to Sagnol after Georgia's defeat to Northern Ireland

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia paid public tribute to Willy Sagnol, dismissed by the Georgian Football Federation the day after Georgia’s 0-1 defeat to Northern Ireland in UEFA Nations League B on Friday. The captain and PSG player posted a lengthy message on social media to honour his manager’s departure.

“Thank you Willy! We have been through so much and overcome many challenges together,” Kvaratskhelia wrote. “My teammates and I realised a childhood dream by qualifying our country for the European Championship. We accomplished that together and it is now part of history.”

The player continued in the same vein: “The joy and emotion we shared with the Georgian people will forever remain as very special memories. I want to tell you of my deep gratitude for this period and the years we spent together. We will not forget this football adventure. I wish you success in the future… We will see each other again.”

The defeat that cost Sagnol his job came in an already difficult context for the Georgian national team. After missing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Georgia had played several friendly matches since March — two draws and two victories — before returning to official competition. This first UEFA Nations League B match ended in a home defeat, enough to trigger the dismissal of the former Bayern Munich defender.

Kvaratskhelia himself was not spared by the evening: the Georgian captain missed a penalty that could have opened the scoring for his team. His farewell message, posted the following day, nonetheless testifies to the deep bond that linked the squad to their manager, under whose leadership Georgia secured their first-ever qualification for a European Championship in 2024.