Willy Sagnol resigns as Georgia head coach after Nations League loss to Northern Ireland

The Nations League has claimed its first coaching casualty just one game into the new campaign. Willy Sagnol is no longer Georgia's head coach after his side lost 1-0 at home to Northern Ireland in their opening Group F fixture in Tbilisi. The Georgian Football Federation announced the Frenchman's resignation on Saturday, bringing an end to a tenure of just over three years in charge of the national team.

• Sagnol resigns after the 0-1 home defeat to Northern Ireland on matchday one of the Nations League.
• The Georgian Football Federation thanks the French coach and calls his spell since 2021 historic.
• Ramaz Svanadze, previously in charge of the under-21 side, signs as head coach until 2028.
• The loss came after Kvaratskhelia missed a penalty with the score still level at 0-0.

An unexpected defeat accelerates Sagnol's exit

Sagnol's departure comes just hours after a loss that hurt Georgia deeply. The home side started as clear favourite against a team that, on paper, looked like one of the most beatable opponents in the group, but the Northern Irish goal sparked frustration inside the Tbilisi stadium. Supporters had been questioning the team's performances for some time, a feeling that grew during the qualifying campaign for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where Georgia never managed to enter the race for a place.

Kvaratskhelia misses a penalty at the worst possible time

The image that summed up Georgia's night came while the match was still level. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, the team's biggest star and a PSG player, had a chance from the spot to put his side ahead, but his effort failed to find the net. It was a psychological blow from which Georgia never recovered. Kvaratskhelia, widely known as Kvara, said after the game that the team will improve in their next outing, when Georgia travel to face Ukraine.

Ramaz Svanadze: from the under-21s to the senior dugout

The Georgian Football Federation wasted no time in naming a replacement. Ramaz Svanadze, 45, will take charge of the senior national team on a deal that runs until 2028. He had been leading the under-21 side, guiding them to two European Championships in the age group, an experience that underlines his knowledge of the country's emerging talent. His main task will be to restore belief in a squad that had lost some of the credit earned by reaching the European Championship.

Sagnol's legacy: from historic Euro qualification to a difficult farewell

Sagnol leaves the job with a record that is hard to sum up in a single line. Under his guidance, Georgia qualified for Euro 2024, the first major tournament in the country's history, an achievement that earned him the Georgian Order of Honour two years ago. As a player, his honours include the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup won with Bayern Munich in 2001. But recent results and the inconsistency shown during World Cup qualifying have ultimately outweighed that milestone.

What comes next for Georgia in Group F

The schedule offers no respite to the new head coach. Georgia play their second group match on Monday against Ukraine, who opened the competition by taking all three points in their game played in Hungary. The margin for error is now minimal after the opening setback, and Svanadze's debut comes in a demanding setting, with points needed to avoid falling behind early in the group phase.