Latvian Higher League

Latvian Higher League
Founded 1927
Country Latvia
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Number of teams 8
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Latvijas 1. līga
Domestic cup(s) Latvian Cup
Latvian Supercup
International cup(s) Champions League
Europa League
Current champions Spartaks Jūrmala
(2016)
Most championships Skonto (15)
Website www.futbolavirsliga.lv
www.lff.lv
2017 Latvian Higher League

Latvian Higher League (Latvian: Virslīga) also known as SynotTip Higher League for sponsorship reasons with SynotTip, is a professional football league and the top tier of association football in Latvia. Organised by the Latvian Football Federation, Higher League is contested by 8 clubs. The new season kicks off in mid-March of every year, and runs until early November.

The League has changed sponsors for several times. From 2005 until 2011, the league was sponsored by the telecommunications operator LMT, naming the league LMT Virslīga. In 2012 the league was reorganised in partnership with the NGO "Latvijas Futbola virslīga",[1] adopting the NGO's name. Before the current season in March 2013, the league signed a sponsorship deal with the microfinancing company SMScredit.lv and acquired its name SMScredit.lv Virslīga.[2] In March 2016, it was announced that the Virslīga would be sponsored by SynotTip on a three-year contract.[3]

League format

After the 2007 season the league increased from eight to ten sides.[4] In 2008 each side played the others four times.

At the end of the season, the lowest placed team are automatically relegated into Traffic 1. liga, and the winner of the Traffic 1. liga automatically takes their place. The second lowest placed team in Virslīga and the second team of 1. liga play two matches for a place in the Virslīga the following season. The winner of Virslīga, the champion of Latvia, plays in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. The second and third placed clubs play in the UEFA Europa League qualifying games.[5]

Clubs (2017)

Locations of the 2017 Latvian Higher League teams

Source:[6]

Club
Babīte
Jelgava
Liepāja
Metta / LU
Riga
Rīgas FS
Spartaks Jūrmala
Ventspils

Titles by year

Source:[7]

Riga Football League

Latvian Championship 1922–1940 (independent)

Football Championship of Latvian SSR 1942–1990

Since independence in 1991

Titles by club

Club Winner Runner-up Year
Skonto Rīga 15 5 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010
ASK Rīga 11 5 1932, 1942, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
Sarkanais Metalurgs Liepāja 9 4 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958
RFK Rīga 8 6 1924, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1940
Olimpija Liepāja 7 8 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1939
VEF Rīga 6 7 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1983
Ventspils 6 5 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014
Elektrons Rīga 4 4 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985
Torpedo Rīga 3 2 1984, 1986, 1987
Liepājas Metalurgs 2 8 2005, 2009
RAF Jelgava 2 4 1988, 1989
Enerģija Rīga 2 2 1976, 1977
Ķīmiķis Daugavpils 2 2 1978, 1980
Kaiserwald Rīga 2 – 1922, 1923
ESR Rīga 2 – 1966, 1967
Venta Ventspils 1 2 1969
Žmiļova Komanda 1 1 1948
Starts Brocēni 1 1 1968
Jūrnieks Rīga 1 1 1972
Dinamo Rīga 1 – 1945
Darba Rezerves Rīga 1 – 1955
RER Rīga 1 – 1959
Gauja Valmiera 1 – 1990
Daugava Daugavpils 1 – 2012
Liepāja 1 – 2015
Spartaks Jūrmala 1 – 2016

References

  1. ↑ "About Virslīga". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Retrieved 16 June 2013. (in Latvian)
  2. ↑ "SMScredit.lv – Latvian football Higher league general sponsor!". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "Virslīga ar "SynotTip" noslēdz vērienīgāko līgumu līgas vēsturē" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Mike Dryomin (14 March 2008). "Latvia 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  5. ↑ Hartmanis, Martins (2007-12-01). "LMT Virslīga new season calendar published". Latvian Football Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  6. ↑ "Virsliga". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  7. ↑ Almantas Lauzadis and Hans Schöggl (23 March 2017). "Latvia - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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