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Beth Lindop
Following Liverpool’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge prior to the international break, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili made his ambitions known.
The Georgian international made a strong impression in his Premier League debut against Enzo Maresca’s team, stepping in to replace the injured Alisson Becker. After the match, he posted lyrics from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”: “Success is my only option. Failure is not.”
This fierce determination has seen Mamardashvili transition from his small hometown of Khoni, Georgia, to competing in the Premier League, where he is vying for the starting goalkeeper position. While many at Anfield still regard Alisson as a top-tier talent, there is a growing recognition that plans for the future are essential as they consider life after the club’s all-time greatest goalkeeper.
With this perspective, Liverpool signed Mamardashvili from Valencia in the summer of 2024 for £25 million, plus an additional £4 million in performance-related bonuses, after his standout performance for Georgia at Euro 2024. The 25-year-old remained with Valencia on loan last season before starting fresh at Anfield this summer, making his competitive debut in the Carabao Cup against Southampton in September.
“We knew we were bringing in a top goalkeeper, but his first game always tells us how well he has adjusted,” said head coach Arne Slot earlier this month. “In that match against Southampton, it was obvious he’s settled in well, which isn’t surprising given his quality. Now he can step into the role that Caoimhin [Kelleher] has filled so many times before in replacing Alisson.”
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The £18m sale of Kelleher to Brentford in June leaves Mamardashvili, who stands at 6-foot-6, as Liverpool’s No. 2 goalkeeper. With Alisson sidelined and the world focused on Merseyside this Sunday as the Reds face off against their fierce rivals, Manchester United in the Premier League, he has a prime opportunity to showcase why he is seen as the club’s long-term first choice.
“Mentally, he has always been super strong”
Goalkeeping runs in Mamardashvili’s family—his father, Davit, played professionally. Giorgi trained with him in their home and proudly wears the No. 25 shirt for both Liverpool and the national team. After joining the youth academy of Georgia’s leading club, Dinamo Tbilisi, at just nine years old, he was loaned out to FC Rustavi and later Locomotive Tbilisi due to a lack of first-team chances, where he quickly caught the attention of technical director Giorgi Kipani.
“We were scouting players from the Georgian league when the sporting director suggested we bring in a goalkeeper who was fourth choice at Dinamo,” Kipani, now president of Locomotive, told ESPN. “At just 18, Dinamo wanted him to gain experience. But shortly after his arrival, the pandemic hit and the championship was paused. When we came back, the new coach [Samson Pruidze] told us to look for another goalkeeper.”
However, Pruidze’s short-lived stint was followed by the appointment of Giorgi Chiabrishvili, a change Kipani believes was pivotal for Mamardashvili’s career.
“Chiabrishvili came in and said, ‘We’re going with Mamardashvili. He’s our guy.’ When we played Granada in the Europa League, we lost 2-0, but Giorgi made around 10 saves or so. He was clearly the standout performer for us despite the defeat.”
His impressive display against Granada caught the attention of Spanish scouts, leading him to secure a one-year loan to Valencia in the summer of 2021. Although initially tagged for the reserve team in Spain’s fifth tier, his preseason performance was so compelling that manager Jose Bordalas elevated him to the first team immediately.
“After just a few training sessions, he was the talk of the coaching staff,” Bordalas said in a 2024 interview. “When I included him in the first match, I was called crazy. I recognized his ability to make crucial saves and knew he would make a difference. He was improving day by day.”
Of course, adapting to La Liga proved challenging, and during his debut, Mamardashvili faced scrutiny after a costly error in a 3-1 loss to Sevilla in September 2021. After receiving the starting position while No. 1 Jasper Cillessen returned from injury, he seized his opportunity, delivering a standout clean-sheet performance against Real Sociedad.
Instead of letting his mistake define him, Mamardashvili transformed it into motivation, a trait often remarked upon by those who know him well.
“He has always been mentally resilient,” Kipani added. “At Locomotive, he was confident, hard-working, and very professional. I recall a match where we lost 4-1 and he made a terrible blunder for the first goal. Everyone worried it would affect him, but he responded as a champion.”
“His skills are outstanding, and he has always seemed destined for greatness. However, it’s his mentality that truly sets him apart. He believes in himself, and his teammates believe in him as well.”
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How ‘Mr. Aura’ became Slot’s first signing
While Mamardashvili gained a reputation as one of La Liga’s brightest young goalkeepers, his global breakthrough came during Euro 2024. He played a crucial role in helping Georgia reach the finals, notably by saving a penalty in the shootout against Greece.
His standout performances during the tournament inspired his team to reach the knockout stage, ultimately being eliminated by Spain, the eventual champions. Despite being the lowest-ranked team present, Georgia’s fascinating journey captured the hearts of many football fans, and Mamardashvili made a remarkable impression with 20 saves in the group stage—seven more than any other goalkeeper.
“He is referred to as ‘Mr. Aura’ in Georgia,” said Saba Sapanadze, the owner of the YouTube channel ‘Geo Team.’ “Whenever he’s on the pitch, we feel reassured. He is immensely popular among Georgian supporters; for many, he is their number one favorite. Although he tends to speak little, his performance speaks volumes.”
“His character stands out; he maintains incredible composure. Even from his days in the Georgian league, after making mistakes, he would rebound and make spectacular saves. He always retains dignity and strength during tough times.”
When the opportunity arose to sign Mamardashvili last summer, Liverpool acted promptly. He became the first signing under Slot, with expectations that he will play an instrumental role for the Reds moving forward.
“His acquisition reflects how our club has historically planned for the long-term future,” Slot expressed after the transfer announcement. “That’s precisely why we secured him.”
Alisson’s mentorship vital for success
With Alisson contracted to Liverpool until 2027, Mamardashvili understood he would need to be patient. However, Alisson’s history of injuries suggested that Mamardashvili would find playing time this season, given the Brazilian has missed approximately 14% of Liverpool’s Premier League matches since joining from AS Roma in 2018.
Recently, Alisson has struggled with hamstring injuries, suffering five separate incidents over the past three years. The latest occurred last month against Galatasaray when he was forced to flee back toward his goal after a stray pass from defender Ibrahima Konaté.
Though there is frustration among Liverpool supporters regarding Alisson’s recurring injuries, there remains confidence that, when healthy, he remains one of the world’s finest goalkeepers. Having a reliable No. 2 is crucial, and there’s optimism that Mamardashvili will thrive under Alisson’s guidance.
“Ali has helped me significantly in my development,” the 25-year-old stated to club media last month. “Meeting stars like Alisson, Virgil [van Dijk], and Mo [Salah] was a dream come true for me. I am ecstatic to be part of this talented squad. What I’ve experienced is nothing short of remarkable.”
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While the challenge of succeeding one of Premier League’s all-time greats might be daunting for most, those who have followed Mamardashvili’s ascent believe he is well-equipped to face it.
“Without a doubt, he can handle the pressure of competing with Alisson,” Sapanadze affirmed. “I’m confident Giorgi will leverage this time learning from Alisson and absorb his finest attributes.”
“It’s important to note that he’s still young for a goalkeeper. His potential is still unfolding. If he continues working on his few weaknesses—as I expect he will—he could be recognized as the best goalkeeper in any global awards ceremony.”
Despite his Premier League debut resulting in a loss, Mamardashvili demonstrated flashes of brilliance against Chelsea, making remarkable saves to deny both Jamie Gittens and Estêvão before conceding a last-minute goal. While it was a disappointing end to a promising start, there’s no greater stage for Mamardashvili to announce his arrival than a fixture against Manchester United at Anfield.
There’s immense pressure that comes with standing out in one of football’s most scrutinized fixtures, but for Mamardashvili, failure is simply not an option.