Experienced Georgian International who came to Newcastle in the 1997 close
season from AEK Athens of Greece. Though the freedom of contract move meant
that Temuri cost United nothing, he is valued at around £5m and had
the choice of many top European clubs before deciding to become a Magpie.
Temuri, who played for Georgia against England in the Wembley World Cup
tie in April 1997, started out with Dinamo Sukhumi in the USSR Second Division,
then joined Dinamo Tblisi as a teenager. Georgia formed its own independent
breakaway league in 1990-91, and the following season Temuri moved to Anorthosis
Famagusta of Cyprus. he joined AEK Athens in 1994 and in each of his three
years there, AEK finished runners-up, twice to Panathinaikos and once to
Olympiakos, though Temuri did win a Greek Cup Winners' Medal in 1996 and
1997. A schemer of subtle skill and incisive passing ability.
