Peteris Lauks
Encyclopedia
Pēteris Lauks was a Latvia
n football
defender, one of the most capped footballers for Latvia national football team
before World War II
.
during World War I
near Ufa
in 1916. Upon returning to Latvia he was a long time player with Amatieris (from 1921 to 1933. His highest achievement with Amatieris was earning bronze medals in the Latvian Higher League in 1929. Lauks was one of the most reliable defenders in Latvian football of his era and he was called up to the national team a few times in 1926 and 1927, capping three matches in total.
When Lauks was already aged over thirty and his football career was presumably near its end he moved to RFK
and made a sudden comeback. With RFK he won three Latvian league titles, became a two time winner of the Latvian Cup and at the age of 33 returned to the national team. Lauks played in the last international match for Latvia before its loss of independence on 18 July 1940, he was aged 38 at the time. In total between 1926 and 1940 he had played in 38 matches for Latvia - only Ēriks Pētersons
, Jānis Lidmanis
, Alberts Šeibelis
, Vladimirs Bērziņš
and Arnolds Tauriņš
had more caps for Latvia.
During the first Soviet occupation of Latvia Lauks played with RDKA Riga, during the Nazi occupation - with Pērkons Riga and again with RFK
. After World War II
Lauks ended up in Germany
where he continued playing football until the age of 46. Later he left Germany for Canada
where he lived until his death.
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, one of the most capped footballers 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...
before 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...
.
Biography
Lauks began playing football when being a refugeeRefugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
near Ufa
Ufa
-Demographics:Nationally, dominated by Russian , Bashkirs and Tatars . In addition, numerous are Ukrainians , Chuvash , Mari , Belarusians , Mordovians , Armenian , Germans , Jews , Azeris .-Government and administration:Local...
in 1916. Upon returning to Latvia he was a long time player with Amatieris (from 1921 to 1933. His highest achievement with Amatieris was earning bronze medals in the Latvian Higher League in 1929. Lauks was one of the most reliable defenders in Latvian football of his era and he was called up to the national team a few times in 1926 and 1927, capping three matches in total.
When Lauks was already aged over thirty and his football career was presumably near its end he moved to RFK
Rigas 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...
and made a sudden comeback. With RFK he won three Latvian league titles, became a two time winner of the Latvian Cup and at the age of 33 returned to the national team. Lauks played in the last international match for Latvia before its loss of independence on 18 July 1940, he was aged 38 at the time. In total between 1926 and 1940 he had played in 38 matches for Latvia - only Ēriks Pētersons
Eriks Petersons
Ēriks Pētersons was Latvian footballer and hockey player. In time between 1929–1939 he played 63 international matches and scored 21 goal for Latvia national team. He also played in Latvian national ice hockey team, where he appeared in 8 matches...
, Jānis Lidmanis
Janis Lidmanis
Jānis Lidmanis was a Latvian footballer and basketballer. In 1930s he was the captain of Latvia national football team for which he made 55 appearances and scored 2 goals....
, Alberts Šeibelis
Alberts Šeibelis
Alberts Šeibelis was a Latvian footballer, one of the most popular Latvian footballers in the era before World War II. In 54 matches for Latvia he scored 14 goals-Biography:...
, Vladimirs Bērziņš
Vladimirs Berzinš
Vladimirs Bērziņš was a Latvian football midfielder and manager, one of the most capped footballers in pre-war Latvia.-Biography:...
and Arnolds Tauriņš
Arnolds Taurinš
Arnolds Tauriņš was a Latvian footballer, a seven-time champion of Latvia in 1920s-1930s.-Biography:...
had more caps for Latvia.
During the first Soviet occupation of Latvia Lauks played with RDKA Riga, during the Nazi occupation - with Pērkons Riga and again with RFK
Rigas 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...
. After 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...
Lauks ended up in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he continued playing football until the age of 46. Later he left Germany for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he lived until his death.