Alfons Jegers
Encyclopedia
Alfons Jēgers was a Latvia
n football
and hockey
player. He is recognized as one of the greatest in the history of both of these sports in Latvia.
. In 1939 Jēgers played his single international football match for Latvia.
In 1940 when Latvian sports life was reorganized according to Soviet standards Jēgers played for Dinamo Riga with which he went on a tourney to Moscow
, Kiev
and Tbilisi
. After German occupation Nazis sent him to Stutthof concentration camp
where Jēgers caught typhus
and was close to death. However he survived and after the end of World War II
he returned to both football and ice-hockey. From 1946 to 1948 he played football with Dinamo Riga, when it was merged with Daugava Rīga he became a player of Daugava. From 1950 to 1952 he was the captain of Daugava, in 1951 - the best goalscorer for the club in the Soviet Top League
. Jēgers had to retire from football when after the 1952 season Daugava got relegated from the top league and in the whole season Jēgers as a forward hadn't scored a single goal.
In ice hockey Jēgers made a career only after World War II when he became a player with Dinamo Rīga
. He played hockey on a professional level until 1957. Later he worked in coaching.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
player. He is recognized as one of the greatest in the history of both of these sports in Latvia.
Biography
Jēgers came from a poor family and in the first years he played football barefoot with a "ball" made from papers and old clothes in the street. At the age of 16 he caught the attention of the trade-union football team. He soon emerged as a very talented footballer and his popularity was on the rise as he scored the single late goal in the victory for his team against the renowned Rīgas FKRigas FK
Riga FK was a Latvian football club which was founded December 14, 1923. It was the strongest and most popular Latvian football club in 1920s and 1930s, it was also the base team for Latvia national football team in its early years...
. In 1939 Jēgers played his single international football match for Latvia.
In 1940 when Latvian sports life was reorganized according to Soviet standards Jēgers played for Dinamo Riga with which he went on a tourney to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
and Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. After German occupation Nazis sent him to Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof was the first Nazi concentration camp built outside of 1937 German borders.Completed on September 2, 1939, it was located in a secluded, wet, and wooded area west of the small town of Sztutowo . The town is located in the former territory of the Free City of Danzig, 34 km east of...
where Jēgers caught typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
and was close to death. However he survived and after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he returned to both football and ice-hockey. From 1946 to 1948 he played football with Dinamo Riga, when it was merged with Daugava Rīga he became a player of Daugava. From 1950 to 1952 he was the captain of Daugava, in 1951 - the best goalscorer for the club in the Soviet Top League
Soviet Top League
The Soviet Top League since 1970 was officially known as the Supreme League serving as the top division of Soviet Union football since 1936.It was one of the best football leagues in Europe ranking second among the UEFA members in 1988-1989 seasons...
. Jēgers had to retire from football when after the 1952 season Daugava got relegated from the top league and in the whole season Jēgers as a forward hadn't scored a single goal.
In ice hockey Jēgers made a career only after World War II when he became a player with Dinamo Rīga
Dinamo Riga
Dinamo Riga was an ice hockey club, based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1946 and disestablished in 1995 as Pārdaugava Rīga.-History of Dinamo Riga:...
. He played hockey on a professional level until 1957. Later he worked in coaching.