Slava Metreveli (1936 Sochi, Russia – 1998 Tbilisi) – Famous Georgian Football player, believed to be one of the best forwards of all times.
Master of Sports of the USSR, master of Sport of International Class of the USSR (1966), Honored Coach of Georgia (1976). He was born in Sochi, Russia. At the beginning of his sporting carrier, he played in youth football team “Trud”. In 1953-1967 he played in the following Russian football teams: 1953-1954 – “Spartak” (Sochi), 1955 – “Torpedo” (Gorky), 1956-1962 – “Torpedo” (Moscow).
For 9 times Slava Metreveli was listed as one of 33 best football players of the USSR. Among them he was named Number One for 8 times in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1968.
In 1960 he won the USSR Football Cup; the same 1960 year he became the holder of European Football Cup (scored a goal in the final game). Twice, in 1960 and 1964, he gained the title of the Champion of the USSR. As a member of the USSR team, he participated in the World Football Championship in 1962, 1964 and 1970. In 1963-1971 he took up the position of a forward in “Dynamo” (Tbilisi). In 1967-1971 he was the captain of selfsame team. In 1968 he was invited to the combined World Team in the match versus Brazilian national team.
Slava Metreveli played 376 matches in the major league (84 goals); in the USSR team in 1958-1971 – 48 matches (11 goals). The central stadium in Sochi is named after Slava Metereveli.
Slava Metreveli died in Tbilisi.