Zurab Khizanishvili Bio Send To Friend  

Blackburn Rovers signed Khizanishvili on loan from Rangers for the 2005/06 season on deadline day in August. After an impressive season signed a permanent deal in June 2006 thought to be worth around about £500,000 to Rangers.

The Georgia international signed a new three-year-deal in January 2008 tying him to the club until the summer of 2011.

The defender is comfortable operating in a number of positions across the back, including a holding midfield role, making him a valued and versatile member of the Rovers squad.

Khizanishvili moved to Scotland in March 2001 when moving to Dundee from home club Lokomotiv Tbilisi.

The Georgia international made his debut in a 2-1 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead, but his season ended in disappointing fashion as he was sent off on the final day - coincidentally also at the home of the Bhoys.

The defender moved to Rangers in the summer of 2003 on a free transfer, a move which angered Dundee after a transfer dispute panel ruled the Gers did not have to pay a fee for a player who was valued at £1million.

His bow coming in a 4-0 demolition of Kilmarnock at Ibrox. He was a regular in the side until falling out of favour in the second half of 2004/05.

Khizanishvili had played only 19 minutes of football for Rangers since the start of January 2005, and had not played in 2005/06, before being allowed to move south of the border.

He had been linked with a move to the Bundesliga with Schalke 04 in the summer.