Tbilisi, Oct 4 (IANS): Retired player Levan Kobiashvili has been appointed as the president of the Georgian Football Federation (GFF), according to local media reports on Sunday.

Kobiashvili beat opponents Rezi Arveladze and Mamuka Kvaratskhelia after an all night intense competition, Xinhua reported.

The 38-year-old Kobiashvili, elected for a four-year term, replaces Zviad Sichinava, who led the federation since 2009.

Kobiashvili, who spent 16 years of his career playing for German clubs SC Freiburg, FC Schalke and most recently in Hertha BSC, enjoyed backing of his former national teammate Kakha Kaladze, who is now Georgia's deputy PM and Minister of Energy.

GFF has been a target of heavy criticism in recent years, mostly because of poor results by the national team.

In FIFA's most recent rankings, Georgia are 110th -- up by 37 places, apparently thanks to 1-0 win against Scotland in Euro 2016 qualifier in early September here.