Jano Ananidze

Jano Ananidze

Jano with Spartak in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Jano Ananidze
Date of birth	(1992-10-10) 10 October 1992 (age 24)
Place of birth	Kobuleti, Georgia
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team	Spartak Moscow
Number	7
Youth career
2003–2005	Dinamo Tbilisi
2005–2007	Dinamo Kiev
2007–2009	Spartak Moscow
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–	Spartak Moscow	98	(12)
2013–2014	→ Rostov (loan)	22	(3)
National team‡
2007	Georgia U-16	4	(3)
2007–2009	Georgia U-17	13	(0)
2009	Georgia U-19	2	(1)
2009–2013	Georgia U-21	6	(2)
2009–	Georgia	32	(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 December 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 September 2016

Jano Ananidze (Georgian: ჯანო ანანიძე; born 10 October 1992 in Kobuleti) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League.

Ananidze appeared in FC Spartak colours in spring of 2009, initially playing for its junior's team, scoring four goals in twelve games. During the midseason break Valery Karpin moved Ananidze from juniors into the main team, then on a training tour in Austria. Ananidze debuted in Russian Cup on 15 July 2009, scoring a goal against first division Krasnodar. On 1 August 2009 Ananidze debuted in regular Russian Premier League 2009 championship, substituting Alex in the 69th minute of the game.

On 18 October 2009, he became the youngest player ever to score a goal in the Russian Premier League (he scored for Spartak Moscow against Lokomotiv Moscow when he was 17 years and 8 days old).

After a successful ending of his debut season, Jano was on the radar of Arsenal and Liverpool. But the rumours were later denied by Spartak Moscow sporting director Dmitri Popov, who insisted the club would not listen to offers until Ananidze was at least in his 20s.