Tamaz Makatsaria

Tamaz Makatsaria is a Georgian footballer who plays as an attacker for Erovnuli Liga 2 club Samtredia.

Makatsaria is the winner of the Georgian Cup with Gagra. Individually, he was a shared topscorer of the 2021 Erovnuli Liga 2 season.

Career Тamaz Makatsaria spent a part of his youth career at Dinamo's academy and Avaza before moving to Tskhinvali's reserve team in 2012. On 14 November 2012, Makatsaria made his debut in the 2nd division when he came off the bench and five minutes later scored an injury-time goal to seal a 4–1 win over Samtredia. In 2013, his team won the title race with a 14-point margin and earned promotion to the Umaglesi Liga.

In January 2015, Makatsaria joined Dinamo Batumi where his father Davit had played in the mid-1990s as a midfielder. On 7 November 2015, Makatsaria scored the first top-flight goal in a 1–0 away win over Shukura. The next summer, he reunited with Tskhinvali, who had suffered relegation to the Pirveli Liga the previous season, to display his goal-scoring skills in full. With 21 goals he ended up as his team's topscorer in 2017. Overall, Tskhinvali was the club Makatsaria made most appearances for during his career (100 games in both competitions).

In 2020, Makatsaria won the first trophy of his career following Gagra's victorious cup campaign. Makatsaria had another memorable season with this 2nd division team the next year as he netted 23 times in 24 league games, sharing topscorer's award with Merani's Cheikne Sylla. He also bagged a winner against Shukura in playoffs which ensured Gagra's return to the top flight after a ten-year absence. Besides, Makatsaria scored his first European goal in a 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League game against Montenegrin side Sutjeska.

In mid-December 2021, Erovnuli Liga bronze medal holders Dila announced the signing a two-year deal with Makatsaria, but after six months the sides terminated the contract by mutual consent which enabled the player to return to Gagra now in the top division. At the end of this season, Makatsaria netted a brace in another relegation/promotion playoff tie in which Gagra managed to beat Spaeri on penalties and retain their top-tier place.

Makatsaria spent the 2023 season in Kazakhstan. Kyzylzhar became his first foreign club in February, although at half season he joined lower league club Zhenis on a six-month deal and contributed to their promotion with 11 goals scored in 14 appearances.

Following another short spell at Greek Super League 2 club Niki Volos, Makatsaria moved to Georgian 2nd division club Sioni in September 2024. In November alone, he netted five times, helping the team to reach playoffs. Makatsaria gave Sioni the lead in a two-legged tie against Gagra on 12 December 2024, but eventually after a 3–3 aggregate score his team failed to prevail in the penalty shoot-out.

Statistics

Honours Team Georgian Cup: 2020

Individual Erovnuli Liga 2 topscorer: 2021 (shared)