TBILISI Famed Georgian football player David Kipiani was killed late Monday in a road accident near Tbilisi, Interior Ministry officials told AFP.

Kipiani, 50, apparently had a heart attack and lost control of his car, which then ran into a tree, police officials said.

Passersby tried to get Kipiani to a hospital, but he died along the way, officials added.

Kipiani, all-Soviet champion in 1978, winner of the Cup of Cups in 1981 and member of the world football team, until recently had been coaching Georgia's football team.

The famous player was also a likely candidate to win next year's elections of Georgian Football Federation's president.