Aleksandrs Koļinko

Aleksandrs Koļinko
Personal information
Full name Aleksandrs Koļinko
Date of birth 18 June 1975 (1975-06-18) (age 36)
Place of birth Riga, Latvian SSR, USSR
(now Republic of Latvia)
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club FC Baltika Kaliningrad
Number 16
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1994 Interskonto Rīga 22 (0)
1995 Skonto-Metals 25 (0)
1996–2000 Skonto Riga 61 (0)
2000–2003 Crystal Palace 82 (0)
2003–2004 FC Rostov 27 (0)
2005–2008 FC Rubin Kazan 69 (0)
2009 JFK Olimps Riga 6 (0)
2009 FC Dinamo Bucharest 0 (0)
2009–2010 FK Ventspils 15 (0)
2010 PFC Spartak Nalchik 8 (0)
2011- FC Baltika Kaliningrad 24 (0)
National team‡
1997– Latvia 86 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:45, 19 February 2011 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 February 2011

Aleksandrs Koļinko (born 18 June 1975 in Riga, Latvian SSR) is a professional footballer, currently playing for FC Baltika Kaliningrad in Russian First Division.[1]

Contents

Club career

Koļinko, a goalkeeper, made his name in the football world during a spell at English club Crystal Palace, where his appearances were limited due to his inconsistent form. He could make brilliant saves one moment, but terrible blunders the next. Reportedly, he was disciplined by the club after,[2] while on the substitutes' bench, he was accused of laughing at a goal his own team had conceded and punched in the face by manager Trevor Francis.[3][4] Francis was later fined by the club and the Football Association for his actions.[5]

He has also played for FC Rostov and FC Rubin Kazan. He was dismissed from Kazan for an unexplained reason before the 2008 season, playing there for 2 seasons.

In May 2009 he signed a contract for 30 days with FC Dinamo Bucharest. At the end of the season board announced that the team will not offer a new contract for the Latvian international goalkeeper. In the summer transfer period he signed a contract with FK Ventspils.[6] In December 2009 he extended his contract with Ventspils for another year. Despite this fact, he was linked by the Russian club FC Sibir Novosibirsk but just after a few days it was announced that he would not go on trial with the team. In August 2010 he went on trial with the Russian Premier League club Spartak Nalchik and signed a one-year contract with them on 26 August 2010. He played 8 matches there battling with Otto Fredrikson for the first keeper's role. Despite gaining the number one role and playing some really good games, after the season he was released. In February 2011 he joined FC Baltika Kaliningrad, signing a contract for one and a half season.[7]

International career

As of January 2010 Koļinko has 86 caps for the Latvian national team, having made his international debut against Estonia on 9 July 1997. He was the starting goalkeeper for Latvia at Euro 2004.

Currently, in 2011, he is the second choice keeper for Latvia, being pushed out of the first keeper's spot by Andris Vaņins.

External links

References

  1. ^ http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/aleksandrs-kolinko/profil/spieler_15318.html
  2. ^ Kolinko to stay at Palace BBC Sport, 13 February 2003
  3. ^ Kolinko claims he was punched by manager The Guardian, 17 August 2002
  4. ^ Goalkeeper 'disappointed' by apology refusal Telegraph, 16 August 2002
  5. ^ When team-mates attack Trevor Francis v Alex Kolinko (Crystal Palace) The Independent
  6. ^ Kolinko şi Kojic au venit la Dinamo ProSport, 4 May 2009
  7. ^ http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/19022011-kolinko_speles_krievijas_1_liga
Latvia squad – UEFA Euro 2004
FC Baltika Kaliningrad – current squad