Latvian Higher League 2009 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Latvian Higher League 2009 was the 18th season of top-tier football in Latvia

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...

. It began on 14 March 2009 with the first round of games and ended on 8 November 2009 with the 36th round of matches. Ventspils

FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils is a Latvian football club, based at Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions in Ventspils city and is one of the most popular football clubs in the country. FK Ventspils plays in the Latvian Virsliga. They are the current champions of the tournament....

were the defending champions.

Due to numerous pre-season team changes, such as club mergers and withdrawals, the format of the league was changed. Since there are only 9 clubs that participate in 2009 Virslīga, every team plays 4 times against every other team, what will make every team playing 32 games. Contrary to the previous season, there isn't Championship and Relegation pool.

Teams

Olimps Rīga

JFK Olimps Riga

Olimps/RFS, founded as JFK Olimps is a Latvian football club, playing in the top division of Latvian football. The club is from the city of Riga...

were relegated after finishing the relegation round in last place. They were replaced by First League

Latvian First League

The Latvian First League is the second tier of football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation. From the 2007 season, the tournament has been known as the Traffic 1. līga, due to its sponsorship by the "Traffic auto advert" advertising company.-Format:There are 14 clubs in...

champions FK Daugava Riga

FK Daugava Riga

Previously FK Daugava 90 is a Latvian football club located in Riga and currently playing in Latvian First League. Formerly under the name Daugava the team was the headliner of Latvian football where played most of the countries top players but with the collapse of the Soviet Union the team ceased...

.

Blāzma won the promotion/relegation play-off against Tranzīts Ventspils

FK Tranzits Ventspils

FC Tranzit is a Latvian football club that is based in Ventspils. Prior to 2010 it was known as FC Tranzīts.-First-team squad:As of April 27, 2010...

with 6–1 on aggregate. However, after several mergers and withdrawals Tranzīts were also awarded a place in Virslīga, as the runners-up of First League.

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...

withdrew due to unpaid debts. They eventually merged with Olimps Rīga

JFK Olimps Riga

Olimps/RFS, founded as JFK Olimps is a Latvian football club, playing in the top division of Latvian football. The club is from the city of Riga...

and created a new club called Olimps/RFS. The new club plays in Virslīga, what saved Olimps Rīga from relegation.

On 12 January 2009 Vindava

FK Vindava Ventspils

FK Vindava is a Latvian football club located in Ventspils. It was founded in 2007. Actually FK Vindava isn't a new team in Latvian football. It's based on FK Honda, which got 4th place in 2006 in Latvian 2. līga, Kurzemes zona.- History :...

withdrew from Virslīga due to financial reasons.

FK Jūrmala merged with JFC Kauguri/Multibanka, which is also a merger of JFC Kauguri Jūrmala

JFC Kauguri Jurmala

JFC Kauguri is a Latvian football club located in Jūrmala.-Current squad:...

and FK Multibanka Rīga

FK Multibanka Riga

Futbola klubs Multibanka is a Latvian football club, playing in the second-highest division of Latvian football. They are from the city of Riga.-First-team squad:...

, to a new club named FK Jūrmala-VV. The new club carried over the players and other personnel from FK Jūrmala.

Daugava Daugavpils

FK Daugava Daugavpils

FC Daugava is a Latvian football club from the city of Daugavpils. In 2007 they renamed from FC Ditton to FC Daugava....

and Dinaburg

Dinaburg FC

Dinaburg FC was a Latvian football club, playing in the city of Daugavpils. In 2009 it merged with FK Daugava. The club plays at the Daugava Stadium . In October 2009 the club was eliminated from Virsliga and also from The Baltic League, because of suspicion about totalizator playing at the club...

also merged and remained under the Dinaburg FC name. It is not yet certain which club's staff will operate the new club. Dinaburg also took Daugava's UEFA Europa League 2009–10 spot.

Location	Stadium	Capacity	Current manager
Rēzekne Rezekne In the 19th century, the population of Rēzekne was 2/3 Jewish. As a result of the Pale of Settlement many Jews settled in Latgalia and were confined to the cities. The remainder of the population included Poles, Germans, Russians, and an extreme minority of native Latgalians...	Sporta Aģentūras Stadions Sporta Agenturas Stadions Sporta Aģentūras Stadions is a multi-use stadium in Rēzekne, Latvia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of SK Blāzma of the Virsliga. The stadium holds 3,000 people.-External links:*...	3,000	Žanis Ārmanis
Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...	Salaspils Stadium	648	Vladimirs Beļajevs
Daugavpils Daugavpils Daugavpils is a city in southeastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. Daugavpils literally means "Daugava Castle". With a population of over 100,000, it is the second largest city in the country after the capital Riga, which is located some...	Celtnieks Stadium Celtnieks Stadium Celtnieks Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Daugavpils, Latvia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FC Daugava. The stadium holds 4,070 people....	4,070	Tamaz Pertia Tamaz Pertia Tamaz Pertia is a former Georgian football midfielder, currently a manager with Olimps.During his playing career, Pertia has played for FC Lokomotiv Minsk in the Belarusian Premier League and many clubs from Georgia, Moldova and Latvia.In 2008 Pertia became the manager of Dinaburg Daugavpils -...
Jūrmala Jurmala Jūrmala is a city in Latvia, about 25 kilometers west of Riga. Jūrmala is a resort town stretching and sandwiched between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River...	Slokas Stadium Slokas Stadium Slokas Stadions is a multi-purpose stadium in Jūrmala, Latvia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FK Jūrmala. The stadium holds 5,000 people....	5,000	Vladimirs Babičevs Vladimirs Babicevs Vladimirs Babičevs is a Latvian football manager and a former footballer. Babičevs played in a 51 international match for Latvia.-Club playing career:...
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...	Daugava Stadium Daugava Stadium (Liepaja) Daugava Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Liepāja, Latvia. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FHK Liepājas Metalurgs. The stadium holds 5,083 people, and hosted the Baltic Cup 1992....	5,083	Rüdiger Abramczik Rüdiger Abramczik Rüdiger Abramczik is a former German football player and coach, best known for his ability to cross the ball ....
Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...	Daugava Stadium Daugava Stadium Daugava Stadium a multifunctional stadium in Riga, Latvia, which was opened in 1958. It helds footballl and athletics competitions. Since 1992 Daugava stadium has a Latvian national sports-based status. Before July 1990 the total capacity of the stadium was more than 10 000 people, but after the...	5,008	Anton Joore
Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...	Skonto Stadium Skonto stadions Skonto Stadium is a football stadium in Riga, Latvia. The stadium has 9,500 seats and was built in 2000. This is the biggest football stadium in Latvia.- Description :Skonto Stadium is located in the heart of Riga - Street E. Melngaiļa 1a, Riga, Latvia...	9,500	Paul Ashworth
Ventspils Ventspils Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...	Ventspils 2. pamatskolas stadions	500	Igors Kičigins
Ventspils Ventspils Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...	Olimpiskais Stadium Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions, more commonly called the Ventspils Stadions, is a multi-purpose stadium in Ventspils, Latvia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. Ventspils Stadions is the home stadium for FK Ventspils, and one of the most famous football stadia in the Latvia. The...	3,085	Nunzio Zavettieri

League table

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First half of season

Second half of season

Relegation play-offs

Since there are only 9 clubs participating in 2009 Virslīga, no teams will be directly relegated. 9th placed Virslīga team and runners-up of First League

Latvian First League

will compete in relegation play-offs for one spot in Virslīga 2010. The other spot will be taken by First League champions. Since one of the teams were excluded from the league, the relegation play-off will be replaced with the direct promotion of the First League team placing second.

Team of the season 2009

Goalkeepers: Viktors Spole

Viktors Spole

Viktors Spole is a football goalkeeper from Latvia. He currently plays for FK Liepājas Metalurgs.-Career:...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
Aleksandrs Vlasovs (Skonto FC

Skonto FC

Skonto FC is a Latvian football club, founded in 1991. The club plays at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Skonto won the Virsliga in the first 14 seasons of the league's existence , and often provides the core of the Latvia national football team...

)

Defenders:
Oskars Kļava

Oskars Klava

Oskars Kļava is a Latvian football defender, currently playing for FC Khimki on loan from FC Anzhi Makhachkala.-Club career:As a youth player Kļava played for FK Liepājas Metalurgs youth team, making his first-team debut in 2002...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
Grigori Chirkin

Grigori Chirkin

Grigori Aleksandrovich Chirkin is a Russian professional footballer. As of 2011, he is a free agent, having previously played for FK Ventspils in Latvia.He played one game for the main squad of FC Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Cup.- External links :*...

(FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils

),
Deniss Ivanovs

Deniss Ivanovs

Deniss Ivanovs is a football defender from Latvia who currently plays for FK Baku in the Azerbaijan Premier League.-Club career:Ivanovs has played all his career at Metalurgs where he made his debut in 2001...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
David Gamezardashvili (Skonto FC

Skonto FC

),
Tomas Tamošauskas

Tomas Tamošauskas

Tomas Tamošauskas is a football midfielder from Lithuania. He currently plays for Liepājas Metalurgs in Latvia. Since summer 2009 he is captain of Liepājas Metalurgs.-Club career:...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
Vitālijs Smirnovs (Skonto FC

Skonto FC

),
Deniss Kačanovs

Deniss Kacanovs

Deniss Kačanovs is a football defender from Latvia, currently playing for Persema Malang in Indonesia Premier League.- Club Career :...

(FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils

),
Dzintars Zirnis

Dzintars Zirnis

Dzintars Zirnis is a Latvian football defender, currently playing for FK Liepājas Metalurgs and the Latvian national team.-Club career:...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs )
Midfielders:
Jurijs Žigajevs

Jurijs Žigajevs

Jurijs Žigajevs is a Latvian football player, currently playing for the Ekstraklasa club Widzew Łódź in Poland.- Club career:...

(FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils

),
Andrejs Prohorenkovs

Andrejs Prohorenkovs

Andrejs Prohorenkovs is a football striker from Latvia.As of April 2007 he has played 32 international matches and scored 4 goals for the Latvia national team...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
Vitālijs Astafjevs

Vitalijs Astafjevs

Vitālijs Astafjevs is a former football midfielder from Latvia, currently the assistant manager for Skonto Rīga.- Club career :...

(FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils

),
Jevgēņijs Kosmačovs

Jevgenijs Kosmacovs

Jevgēņijs Kosmačovs is a Latvian footballer who plays for FK Ventspils.He is a midfielder and he has also been capped by Latvia.-Club career:...

(FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils

),
Maksims Rafaļskis

Maksims Rafaļskis

Maksims Rafaļskis is a Latvian footballer, currently playing for Russian First Division club FC Baltika Kaliningrad.- Club career :...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
Igors Kozlovs (Skonto FC

Skonto FC

),
Pāvels Surņins

Pavels Surnins

Pāvels Surņins is a football midfielder from Latvia. He currently plays for FK Liepājas Metalurgs.-Club career:...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
Igor Tigirlas (FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils

)
Forwards:
Vits Rimkus

Vits Rimkus

Vīts Rimkus is a football striker from Latvia, currently playing for Finikas Ayias Marinas Chrisohus in Cypriot Fourth Division, after being released by FK Ekranas in Lithuania....

(FK Ventspils

FK Ventspils

),
Vladimir Dvalishvili

Vladimir Dvalishvili

Vladimer "Lado" Dvalishvili is a Georgian footballer, currently playing in the Israeli Premier League for the Maccabi Haifa Football Club.-Career:Dvalishvili was signed by Olimpi Rustavi in June 2006....

(Skonto FC

Skonto FC

),
Kristaps Grebis

Kristaps Grebis

Kristaps Grebis is a Latvian footballer, currently playing for FK Simurq Zaqatala in Azerbaijan Premier League.- Club career :...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs ),
Ģirts Karlsons

Girts Karlsons

Ģirts Karlsons is Latvian football striker currently playing for Azerbaijani club FC Inter Baku.-Club career:Karlsons started his career at FK Liepājas Metalurgs in 1998. He spent the next six season with the club...

(FK Liepājas Metalurgs )

External links

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