New Armenia Coach Van ‘t Schip Stunned by Mikautadze’s Brilliance

John van ‘t Schip’s Challenging Debut as Armenia’s Coach

In a disappointing start to his tenure, John van ‘t Schip, the newly appointed head coach of the Armenian national football team, faced a formidable challenge in the Nations League promotions and relegations. In his first match, Armenia suffered a crushing defeat at home in Yerevan, losing 0-3 to Georgia.

Georgia’s Dominance and Mikautadze’s Performance

A familiar face for Van ‘t Schip, Lyon forward Georges Mikautadze, demonstrated his scoring prowess by netting two goals during the match. This was particularly poignant, as Van ‘t Schip had previously coached Mikautadze during his time at Ajax, where the Georgian striker had limited opportunities.

“Mikautadze has a very smooth touch and can finish excellently,” noted Van ‘t Schip in November 2023. “We’ve seen this during training sessions. For him, it’s about adapting to our style at Ajax.”

Unfortunately for Van ‘t Schip, the necessary adaptation never happened. Mikautadze departed Amsterdam considered one of the misfires under technical director Sven Mislintat. The forward, born in Lyon, went on to find success after a brief loan at Metz, eventually joining Olympique Lyonnais, where he has since established himself as a regular starter, contributing significantly to his team’s offensive performance.

Match Overview and Implications

The match began with Giorgi Kochorashvili scoring the opening goal, quickly followed by Mikautadze’s impressive double. As the teams prepare for the return leg scheduled for Sunday in Tbilisi, the stakes are high. The winner of this match will advance to play in the B division of the next Nations League edition, while the losing team will drop to the C division.