Khocholava ends playing career
David Khocholava has been forced to end his professional football career due to injuries and therefore leaves F.C. Copenhagen.
The Georgian defender has undergone several operations and rehabilitation processes over the past year and a half, but the extent of his injuries is so severe that it is no longer possible to return to top-level football.
Difficult, but inevitable decision
“It is a difficult but inevitable decision,” Khocholava says.
“I have really tried and spent countless hours working my way back, but I have to face the fact that there is no way back. It's hard, but I have come to terms with it and my health must come first.
“I have had a fantastic time in Copenhagen and at FCK. I have made friends for life, had great experiences on the field, and formed a strong bond with the club, the city, and especially the fans.
“I will miss it terribly, but I will never forget the support my family and I have received here – especially during the hardest times after the attack on Ukraine, where we felt great love and support. I will always be grateful for that.”
Khocholava joined FCK from Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2021 and is now ready for a new chapter of his life.
“Now I must find out what the future will bring together with my family,” he says. “I will miss football and the life around it, but it also opens the opportunity to explore other aspects of life with my family and friends.
“I want to thank F.C. Copenhagen for some of the best years of my career. Despite the injuries, my time here has been really good for both me and my family, and everyone at the club has supported me in my attempt to come back. I will definitely follow the club in the future just as Copenhagen has become a home for my family and me.
“A huge thank you to everyone at the club. Coaches, physiotherapists, kit men, players, the media department, and everyone in the club for being like a family to me. And from today, I am a proud fan of F.C. Copenhagen and a member of Sektion 12.”
FCK farewell at first home game
Supporters and staff will bid a proper farewell to Khocholava at the first home game of the 2024/25 season on 28 July when FCK host AGF in Parken.
Sports Director Sune Smith-Nielsen adds:
“We hope that many supporters will come and say goodbye to David at our first home game in Parken. He deserves a strong farewell from the club, and it is important to send David off well into the future, and he should know that we have appreciated his efforts in Copenhagen.
“He will be missed, but the door will always be open for David, when he stops by.”
Skilled player with heart and winning instinct
For everyone at FCK, Khocholava's retirement means it is a sad farewell to a very well-liked person in the club.
“Besides being an incredibly skilled player, David is also a strong personality and character,” says head coach Jacob Neestrup.
“From day one, he had a great understanding of which club he was a part of, and he always played with heart and a winning instinct, so teammates, coaches and fans were always able to rely on him.
“When he was at his peak here, he was one of the absolute best in his position in our club's history.”
Everyone at F.C. Copenhagen wishes David and his family all the best in the future.