FK Liepājas Metalurgs

For the ice hockey club see HK Liepajas Metalurgs
FK Liepājas Metalurgs
Full name Futbola Klubs Liepājas Metalurgs
Founded 1997
Ground Daugava Stadium
Liepāja, Latvia
(Capacity: 5,100)
Chairman Sergejs Zaharjins
Manager Vladimirs Osipovs
League Virsliga
2011 Virsliga, 2nd
Website Club home page
Home colours
Away colours
Current season

FK Liepājas Metalurgs (Latvian: Futbola klubs "Liepājas metalurgs") is a Latvian football club, based in the city of Liepāja and playing in the Virslīga. They play at the Daugava Stadium (capacity 5,008). In 2005 Liepajas Metalurgs became the first team other than Skonto FC of Riga to win the Virslīga since the league restarted in 1991.

Contents

History

Based in Liepāja, FK Liepājas Metalurgs, got their name from the city's metallurgical factory, founded in 1882, the only one of its kind in the Baltic States.

The history of the club can be traced back to 1945 when two football clubs were founded in Liepāja – Daugava Liepāja and Dinamo Liepāja.

Daugava Liepāja and Dinamo Liepāja: 1945–1947

In its debut season Daugava Liepāja were runners-up in the Latvian league behind the champions FK Dinamo Rīga. In 1946 Daugava were coached by former Olimpija Liepāja defender Kārlis Tīls and with one of the best former Olimpija players Ernests Ziņģis in attack the team won its first Latvian title. Both Valdis Pultraks and Voldemārs Sudmalis were in the squad. Daugava again won the title again in 1947 and the squad included Miervaldis Drāznieks who went on to score 160 goals in the Latvian league. Daugava Liepāja also won the Latvian Cup in 1946 and 1947.

Dinamo Liepāja did not play in the Latvian top league. However in 1948 Dinamo won the Latvian Cup with future Liepāja player Žanis Zviedris in the team.

Sarkanais Metalurgs: 1949–1961

In 1949 Daugava Liepāja and Dinamo Liepāja merged to form Sarkanais Metalurgs which, for the next decade was the strongest club in the Latvian league. In 1949 Sarkanais Metalurgs won both the league and the Latvian Cup. More titles followed in 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956–1958. They also won the Latvian Cup three times in a row from 1953 to 1955. In 1954 after beating Daugava Rīga in a match for the chance to play in the Soviet League a united Daugava-Metalurgs club was formed which included six Metalurgs players. In 1954 they competed in the "USSR Class B 1954, 2nd zone" of the Soviet First League the second tier in Soviet football.[1] In the Latvian league the Metalurgs team was made up of mostly the reserve squad. In 1956 Daugava did not include the Metalurgs name in the Soviet League. In 1960 Sarkanais Metalurgs were given a place in the Soviet league and continued playing in the league under various names until 1990.[2] In 1961 the club played as LMR Liepāja.

Zvejnieks Liepāja: 1962–1989

In 1962 the club changed owners and was renamed Zvejnieks Liepāja. It was considered to be the second team for Daugava Rīga and the clubs best players usually had to leave for Daugava. Also if Daugava players needed to have match practice they were sent to Liepāja. In the Soviet league Zvejnieks were usually a mid-table club. With the club playing in the Soviet and not the local league, players from other Republics of the Soviet Union came to play for Zvejnieks. In the 1960s, defender Mārtiņš Lube was the club's captain. Jurijs Romaņenkovs who went on to become the club's coach in 1989–90 played for Zvejnieks in the 1970s.

In the 1980s Vladimirs Žuks coached Zvejnieks and several bright players emerged with the club including Jānis Intenbergs, Ilmārs Verpakovskis, Vladimirs Babičevs and Ainārs Linards. A number of Daugava Rīga players also played for Zvejnieks including Raimonds Laizāns and Dainis Deglis.

Olimpija Liepāja: 1990–1993

In 1990 the club was renamed and given the name of a former Latvian club that plated in the 1920s–1930s – Olimpija Liepāja. As Olimpija the club played in the Soviet league in 1990, but in 1991, after Latvia regaining its independence, they played only in the Latvian league and finished in the third place. The Olimpija period saw the emergence of Viktors Dobrecovs at the club. After the breakup of the Soviet Union the first seasons in the newly independent Latvia were difficult for Olimpija as they got financially weaker from year to year.

FK Liepāja: 1994

In 1994 the club was renamed FK Liepāja but played only one season with that name.

DAG Liepāja: 1995–1996

In 1995 FK Liepāja was merged with FC Dag Rīga to form DAG Liepāja. The club reached the 1995 Latvian Cup final where they lost 3–0 to Skonto FC. Ainārs Linards returned to the club in 1995. In the Latvian league the club finished 8th out of ten clubs in 1996.

Baltika Liepāja: 1996–1997

In 1996 the club changed owners again and became Baltika Liepāja. In 1996 Māris Verpakovskis, the son of Ilmārs Verpakovskis and future Latvia national football team international made his debut for the club. For some time the club was on the brink of bankruptcy and struggled to stop the best players from leaving the club. However, the club got new funding from the local Metallurgy factory and for the 1997 season at last had a stable budget and ambitious plans again.

FK Liepājas Metalurgs: 1997 to present

In 1998 Metalurgs with Jurijs Popkovs as their head coach finished second behind Skonto in the Latvian Virslīga and each season up to 2004 Metalurgs finished second in the championship. In the Latvian Cup they also lost three cup finals. In 2005 Metalurgs finally became Virslīga champions and won the first title for Liepāja in an independent Latvia since the 1930s. In 2006 Metalurgs also finally won the Latvian Cup. The next league title came in 2009.

Honours

League and Cup history

Soviet Union

Olimpija Liepāja
Season Division (Name) Pos./Teams Pl. W D L GS GA P Soviet Cup
1990 4th (Soviet Second League B) 7/(17) 32 14 9 9 36 37 37 Did not participate

Latvian SSR

Olimpija Liepāja
Season Division (Name) Pos./Teams Pl. W D L GS GA P Latvian Football Cup
1991 1st (Virsliga) 3/(20) 36 25 8 3 95 34 58

Latvia

Olimpija Liepāja
Season Division (Name) Pos./Teams Pl. W D L GS GA P Latvian Football Cup
1992 1st (Virsliga) 6/(12) 22 10 5 7 33 25 25
1993 1st (Virsliga) 7/(12) 18 3 6 9 24 46 12
FK Liepāja
Season Division (Name) Pos./Teams Pl. W D L GS GA P Latvian Football Cup
1994 1st (Virsliga) 11/(12) 22 2 5 15 16 46 9 Runner-up
DAG Liepāja
Season Division (Name) Pos./Teams Pl. W D L GS GA P Latvian Football Cup
1995 1st (Virsliga) 8/(10) 24 5 5 10 29 57 28 Runner-up
FK Liepāja / FK Baltika
Season Division (Name) Pos./Teams Pl. W D L GS GA P Latvian Football Cup
1996 1st (Virsliga) 5/(10) 28 11 5 12 32 44 38 1/4 finals
FK Liepājas Metalurgs
Season Division (Name) Pos./Teams Pl. W D L GS GA P Latvian Football Cup
1997 1st (Virsliga) 5/(9) 24 9 4 11 27 32 31 Did not participate
1998 1st (Virsliga) 2/(8) 28 17 6 5 62 25 57 Runner-up
1999 1st (Virsliga) 2/(8) 28 19 3 6 75 25 60 1/2 finals
2000 1st (Virsliga) 3/(8) 28 16 7 5 51 25 55 Runner-up
2001 1st (Virsliga) 3/(8) 28 20 4 4 60 24 64 1/2 finals
2002 1st (Virsliga) 3/(8) 28 15 6 7 56 31 51 Runner-up
2003 1st (Virsliga) 2/(8) 28 22 2 4 100 29 68 1/4 finals
2004 1st (Virsliga) 2/(8) 28 21 3 4 85 27 66 1/2 finals
2005 1st (Virsliga) 1/(8) 28 22 5 1 85 19 71 Runner-up
2006 1st (Virsliga) 2/(8) 28 18 6 4 66 20 62 Winner
2007 1st (Virsliga) 2/(8) 28 18 4 6 42 21 58 1/4 finals
2008 1st (Virsliga) 2/(10) 28 14 11 3 48 25 53 1/4 finals
2009 1st (Virsliga) 1/(9) 32 25 4 3 96 23 79 1/4 finals
2010 1st (Virsliga) 3/(10) 27 19 4 4 70 20 61 1/4 finals
2011 1st (Virsliga) 2/(9) 32 22 4 6 74 26 70 Runner-up

Participation in Baltic League

Year Position
2007/08 Winner
2008/09 Quarter-finals
2009/10 Semi-finals
2010/11 Semi-finals

Europe record

Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
1998/99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Keflavík ÍF 4–2 0–1 4–3
2R SC Braga 0–0 0–4 0–4
1999/00 UEFA Cup QR Lech Poznań 3–2 1–3 4–5
2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1 Cork City F.C. 1–0 2–1 3–1
2 SC Heerenveen 3–2 1–6 4–8
2000/01 UEFA Cup QR SK Brann 1–1 0–1 1–2
2002/03 UEFA Cup QR FC Kärnten 0–2 2–4 2–6
2003/04 UEFA Cup QR FC Dinamo Bucureşti 1–1 2–5 3–6
2004/05 UEFA Cup 1QR B36 Tórshavn 8–1 3–1 11–2
2Q Östers IF 1–1 2–2 3–3 (a)
1 FC Schalke 04 0–4 1–5 1–9
2005/06 UEFA Cup 1QR NSÍ Runavík 3–0 3–0 6–0
2QR K.R.C. Genk 2–3 0–3 2–6
2006/07 UEFA Champions League 1QR FC Aktobe 1–0 1–1 2–1
2QR FC Dynamo Kyiv 1–4 0–4 1–8
2007/08 UEFA Cup 1QR FC Dinamo Brest 1–1 2–1 3–2
2QR AIK Fotboll 3–2 0–2 3–4
2008/09 UEFA Cup 1QR Glentoran F.C. 2–0 1–1 3–1
2QR SC Vaslui 0–2 1–3 1–5
2009/10 UEFA Europa League 2QR FC Dinamo Tbilisi 2–1 1–3 3–4
2010/11 UEFA Champions League 2QR Sparta Prague 0–3 0–2 0–5
2011/12 UEFA Europa League 2QR FC Red Bull Salzburg 1–4 0-0 1-4

Sponsors

Role Sponsors
General sponsors Liepājas Metalurgs
Kit manufacturer Adidas

Players and staff

Current squad

As of April 14, 2011

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 GK Edgars Potapenko
3 DF Toms Mežs
4 DF Dzintars Zirnis
5 DF Artjoms Kuzņecovs
6 MF Jevgēņijs Golovins
7 FW Vladimirs Kamešs
8 MF Igors Aleksejevs
9 DF Tomas Tamošauskas (captain)
10 MF Nerijus Valskis (on loan from FBK Kaunas)
11 MF Roberts Savaļnieks
12 FW Dmitrijs Hmizs
13 DF Pāvels Surņins
14 FW Ēriks Punculs
15 FW Jurģis Kalns
16 MF Marius Činikas
No. Position Player
17 FW Andrejs Prohorenkovs
18 DF Pāvels Mihadjuks
20 MF Genādijs Soloņicins
21 GK Pāvels Šteinbors
23 FW Dāvis Ikaunieks
23 FW Vugar Askerov
25 MF Toms Gucs
28 DF Antons Jemeļins
31 GK Viktors Spole
77 FW Vitalijus Kavaliauskas
87 DF Ritus Krjauklis
DF Agris Otaņķis
- DF Endijs Šlampe
DF Reinis Flaksis

For recent squad changes see: List of Latvian football transfers winter 2010-2011 and List of Latvian football transfers summer 2011.

Staff

Position Name
Chairman Sergejs Zaharjins
Director Ilgvars Šēns
Financial director Aleksandrs Rogoza
Director of football Šenderis Giršovičius
Manager Vladimirs Osipovs
Assistant manager Viktors Lukins
Goalkeeping coach Aleksejs Krucs
Doctor Anatolijs Krivozubovs
Masseur Aleksandrs Bobrovičs
Masseur Dainis Sergejevs
General manager Jurijs Romaņenkovs

Notable former players

Managers

Figures correct as of November 9, 2011.

  • Kārlis Tīls (1945–48) (Daugava Liepāja coach)
  • Arturs Bušs (1949–51)
  • Ernests Ziņģis(1953–54)
  • Afanasijs Ptičkins (1954–60)
  • Hārdijs Blūms (1961)
  • Lev Korchebokov (1962–63)
  • Afanasijs Ptičkins (1964–65)
  • Lev Korchebokov (1966–67)
  • Boriss Graps (1967–68)
  • Raimonds Dambis (1969–70)
  • Zigfrīds Driķis (1971)
  • Afanasijs Ptičkins (1971–75)
  • Vladimirs Davidovs (1976-78)
  • Valentīns Obrivins (1976–78)
  • Boris Reinhold (1978–80)
  • Valentīns Obrivins (1981–82)
  • Eduards Vlasovs (1983–84)
  • Vladimirs Žuks (1985–88)
  • Jānis Mežeckis (1989–90)

Women's team

The women's team play in Latvian highest league and has won the championship in 2010. It will represent Latvia in the 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League.[3] It is the very first time a team from Latvia enters the competition since its creation in 2001–02.

References

  1. ^ "USSR Class B 1954, 2nd zone". KLISF. http://www.klisf.info/numeric/index.app?cmd=tournn&lang=en&id=014600058899413. Retrieved 2008-02-03. 
  2. ^ "USSR Class B 1960, Republics, 2nd zone". KLISF. http://www.klisf.info/numeric/index.app?cmd=tournn&lang=en&id=014120060999392. Retrieved 2008-02-03. 
  3. ^ stabak.no. "Stabæk Fotball > Women's Champions League" (in Norwegian). http://www.stabak.no/kvinner/article97054.ece?postingId=97162. Retrieved 13 June 2011. 

External links