Dzintars Sprogis
Encyclopedia
Dzintars Sproģis is a former Latvia
n football
defender. Sproģis was recognized as the best defender in the first season of Virslīga
.
The first club that Dzintars played with was Zvejnieks Liepāja in 1988 (at the age of just 17) from which he moved to RAF Jelgava in 1989. In 1989 he also made a debut with Daugava Rīga. With RAF he played in lower Soviet leagues. In the first Virslīga
season Dzintars joined former Daugava head coach Jānis Skredelis with Kompar-Daugava but in 1993 he went to play abroad - with KTH Diest in Belgium
. In 1994 Sproģis returned to Latvia where with FC DAG Rīga he won the bronze medals of Virslīga and reached the Latvian Cup final.
In 1995 and 1996 Sproģis played in Russia
- first with Kolos Krasnodar, then with Tekstilshchik Kamyshin. When Tekstilshchik was relegated from the top division Sproģis returned to Liepāja
where his career had started and joined Baltika Liepāja. In 1998 Sproģis was already in another club - he had joined Daugava/LU
which performed rather poorly and in 1999 Sproģis changed the club again - he joined the newly formed FK Rīga
(which was formed on the basis of Daugava/LU) with which he won the Latvian Cup in 1999. His last club was FC Kaisar
in Kazakhstan
. In 2002 Dzintars Sproģis finished his playing career.
Sproģis also played 23 international matches for Latvia national football team
from 1992 to 1998. His international debut came in Latvia's first match after it regained independence - a loss of 0:2 against Romania
in a friendly match. His last match for Latvia was also a friendly game 2:0 win against Andorra
in Pärnu
, Estonia
.
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...
defender. Sproģis was recognized as the best defender in the first season of Virslīga
Virsliga
-Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs...
.
Playing biography
Dzintars Sproģis came from a sporting family - his father Aivars played for Darba rezerves and Dzintars' older brother Haralds Sproģis was also a footballer with whom Dzintars played together in several clubs.The first club that Dzintars played with was Zvejnieks Liepāja in 1988 (at the age of just 17) from which he moved to RAF Jelgava in 1989. In 1989 he also made a debut with Daugava Rīga. With RAF he played in lower Soviet leagues. In the first Virslīga
Virsliga
-Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs...
season Dzintars joined former Daugava head coach Jānis Skredelis with Kompar-Daugava but in 1993 he went to play abroad - with KTH Diest in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. In 1994 Sproģis returned to Latvia where with FC DAG Rīga he won the bronze medals of Virslīga and reached the Latvian Cup final.
In 1995 and 1996 Sproģis played in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- first with Kolos Krasnodar, then with Tekstilshchik Kamyshin. When Tekstilshchik was relegated from the top division Sproģis returned to Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
where his career had started and joined Baltika Liepāja. In 1998 Sproģis was already in another club - he had joined Daugava/LU
Torpedo Riga
Torpedo Rīga was a football club that played in Riga. The club played in the Latvian league with good success from 1979 to 2000 when it merged with Policijas FK.-As Torpedo Rīga:...
which performed rather poorly and in 1999 Sproģis changed the club again - he joined the newly formed FK Rīga
FK Riga
FK Rīga was a Latvian football club based in Riga. They played in the Virslīga, the top division in Latvian football. They played their home games at Latvijas Universitates Stadions. In 1999, its first year of existence, the club won the Latvian Cup, beating Skonto at the final. The club also...
(which was formed on the basis of Daugava/LU) with which he won the Latvian Cup in 1999. His last club was FC Kaisar
FC Kaisar
FC Kaisar Kyzylorda are a Kazakh football based in the Gany Muratbayev Stadium in Kyzylorda. They are founding members of the Kazakhstan Premier League and have missed only three seasons following relegations. The most successful was the season of 1998, when they won the Kazakhstan Cup and got...
in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. In 2002 Dzintars Sproģis finished his playing career.
Sproģis also played 23 international matches for Latvia national football team
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
from 1992 to 1998. His international debut came in Latvia's first match after it regained independence - a loss of 0:2 against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
in a friendly match. His last match for Latvia was also a friendly game 2:0 win against Andorra
Andorra national football team
The Andorra national football team represents Andorra in association football and is controlled by the Andorran Football Federation, the governing body for football in Andorra. The team has enjoyed very little success due to the Principality's tiny population, the fourth smallest of any UEFA...
in Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
Honours
- Best Defender in the Latvian League (1):
- 1992