| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Deniss Rakels | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Jēkabpils, Latvia | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | GKS Katowice (on loan from Zagłębie Lubin) | ||
| Number | 80 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Jēkabpils RSS | |||
| Jēkabpils SC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007–2009 | FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2 | ||
| 2009–2010 | FK Liepājas Metalurgs | 40 | (27) |
| 2011– | Zagłębie Lubin | 4 | (0) |
| 2011- | → GKS Katowice (loan) | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008-2009 | Latvia U-17 | ||
| 2009–2010 | Latvia U-19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2011- | Latvia U-21 | 1 | (2) |
| 2010– | Latvia | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 August 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Deniss Rakels (born 20 August 1992 in Jēkabpils) is a Latvian footballer, who currently plays for I liga club GKS Katowice in Poland on loan from Zagłębie Lubin.[1]
Contents |
Rakels started his youth career in his local town club Jēkabpils RSS, later on moving to another club from the same city - Jēkabpils SC. In 2007 he left signing for FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2 in the Latvian First League. While playing for the reserve team of Metalurgs, he was an outstanding team leader - he scored regularly and was impressive with his speed to finish the through balls. In 2009, only 17 years old, he was called up to the first team squad by that time Metalurgs manager Rüdiger Abramczik.[2] He had no difficulties to fit into the first team level soon after joining, becoming a regular first eleven player. Even more - he scored in nearly every appearance. In fact, just after a few appearances Deniss had already completed 2 league hat-tricks. His technique and footballing skills have impressed many coaches all around the world, despite he is just 18.[3] In December 2009 he went on trial with the Italian Serie A side Sampdoria. In April 2010 he joined Swiss Super League team Basel on trial,[4] but in August 2010 in a league game against FK Ventspils he was scouted by Werder Bremen scouts.[5]
In December 2010 it was announced that Rakels would go on a training camp together with the Russian giants Rubin Kazan in January 2011, but the player himself decided to reject the offer, because the Polish Ekstraklasa club Zagłębie Lubin were showing a keen interest in signing him.[6] This scenario turned out to be true and on 30 January 2011, after passing medical tests, Rakels signed a contract with them.[7]
On August 17, 2011 Rakels was sent on a season long loan spell to Polish I liga club GKS Katowice to gain exparience due to his limited game time in Lubin.[8]
Rakels has been a vital first eleven player for Latvia U-19 since 2009. In June 2010 he was firstly called up to the senior side for the 2010 Baltic Cup by the manager Aleksandrs Starkovs, who was amazed of youngster's great appearances in the national championship.[9]
|
|||||
|
|||||