Vitalijs Astafjevs
Encyclopedia
Vitālijs Astafjevs is a former football midfielder
from Latvia
, currently the assistant manager for Skonto Rīga
.
, where he is remembered as a cult hero for his impressive displays in a struggling team, Admira Wacker, Rubin Kazan and after that returned to FC Skonto. Later on he also played for Olimps/RFS, FK Ventspils
and Skonto FC
once again, where he retired in November 2010.
After his retirement from professional football he was offered the assistant manager place at the club, and he took that offer.
. He holds the European record for the most played matches in a national team.
On 17 November 2010, in a friendly match against China
, Astafjevs made his 167th and his last appearance for Latvia football team
.
Latvian Champion (8):
Latvian Football Cup
(4):
Virsliga Top Scorer
(1):
Latvian Footballer of the Year
(3):
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
from 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...
, currently the assistant manager for Skonto Rīga
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...
.
Club career
He started his career in FC Skonto, and later played for Austria Vienna, Bristol Rovers F.C.Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, where he is remembered as a cult hero for his impressive displays in a struggling team, Admira Wacker, Rubin Kazan and after that returned to FC Skonto. Later on he also played for Olimps/RFS, FK 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....
and 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...
once again, where he retired in November 2010.
After his retirement from professional football he was offered the assistant manager place at the club, and he took that offer.
International career
He debuted in 1992 when the national team was established, and played at the Euro 2004 as the team's captain. He has played 167 international matches and scored 16 goals for the Latvia national teamLatvia 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...
. He holds the European record for the most played matches in a national team.
On 17 November 2010, in a friendly match against China
China national football team
The China PR national football team is the national association football team of the People's Republic of China and is governed by the Chinese Football Association...
, Astafjevs made his 167th and his last appearance for Latvia 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...
.
Honours
Baltic Cup (3):- 1993Baltic Cup 1993The 1993 Baltic Cup football competition took place from July 2 – July 4 at the Kalevi Stadium in Pärnu, Estonia. It was the third annual competition of the three Baltic states – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – since they regained their independence from the Soviet Union in...
, 1995Baltic Cup 1995The 1995 Baltic Cup football competition took place from May 19 to May 21 at the Daugava Stadium in Riga, Latvia. It was the fifth annual competition of the three Baltic states – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – since they regained their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.-Latvia...
, 2008Baltic Cup 2008The Baltic Cup 2008 football competition took place from 30 May to 1 June 2008 at the Slokas Stadium in Jūrmala and at the Skonto Stadium in Riga, Latvia.Hosts Latvia together with Lithuania and Estonia are the teams that took part.-Results:...
Latvian Champion (8):
- 1992Latvian Higher League 1992The 1992 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the second football domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991...
, 1993Latvian Higher League 1993The 1993 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the third domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Ten teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.-Final table:-Topscorers:-Awards:-Skonto FC...
, 1994Latvian Higher League 1994The 1994 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the fourth domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Twelve teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.-First round:-Topscorers:-Awards:-Skonto...
, 1995Latvian Higher League 1995The 1995 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the fifth domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991...
, 1997Latvian Higher League 1997The 1997 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the seventh domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Ninth teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.-Final table:-Match...
, 1998Latvian Higher League 1998The 1998 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the 8th domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Eight teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.-Final table:-Match...
, 1999Latvian Higher League 1999The 1999 season in the Latvian Higher League, named Virslīga, was the ninth domestic competition since the Baltic nation gained independence from the Soviet Union on 6 September 1991. Eight teams competed in this edition, with Skonto FC claiming the title.-Final table:-Match Table:-Awards:-Skonto...
, 2010
Latvian Football Cup
Latvian football Cup
The Latvian Football Cup is the main "knockout" cup competition in Latvian football. It started in 1937 replacing the previous knockout tournament – Riga Football Cup.The competition is a knockout tournament....
(4):
- 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998
Virsliga Top Scorer
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...
(1):
- 1995
Latvian Footballer of the Year
Latvian Footballer of the Year
Latvian Footballer of the Year is an association football award for Latvia. It is held by the Latvian Football Federation.-Winners:* 1995: Vitālijs Astafjevs* 1996: Vitālijs Astafjevs* 1997: Jurijs Ševļakovs* 1998: Mihails Zemļinskis* 1999: Marians Pahars...
(3):
- 1995, 1996, 2007
External links
- Latvian Football Federation (in Latvian)
- National Football Teams