The ex-Georgia international, 41, was only appointed in May after guiding Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta into the group stages of last season’s Champions League.
It was even more strange as the Greek side have yet to lose or concede a goal after three rounds of league fixtures.
Olympiacos named Zico as their new coach in succession to Ketsbaia, and they also got off to a winning start in the Champions League thanks to Vassilis Torosidis' 79th-minute header which was enough to see off AZ Alkmaar 1-0.
He will long be remembered on Tyneside that his goal celebration after scoring against Bolton, throwing his shirt into the Gallowgate End, and kicking the McDonalds and Adidas advertising boards.
However, he was not the only former Toon player to manage in Cyprus, and I spoke to Tommy Cassidy once and he said life was not always a bed of roses on the Greek/Turkish island.
"I was manager and we were top of the league, but we suffered a rare home defeat. I was frightened to walk the street. You have no idea the animosity aimed at the players and myself."