Riga Football Club, commonly referred to as Riga FC, is a Latvian football club, founded in 2014. The club is based at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Since 2016, the club has been playing in the Virslīga.
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| Full name | Riga Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 30 April 2014 | |||
| Ground | Skonto Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 8,087 | |||
| Chairman | Aleksandrs Proņins | |||
| Manager | Simo Valakari | |||
| League | Virslīga | |||
| 2023 | Virslīga, 2nd of 10 | |||
| Website | Club website | |||
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History edit
The club was officially registered in April 2014.[1] The team was established before the 2015 season after a merger of two Riga based teams – FC Caramba and Dinamo Rīga. In the 2015 season, under the name FC Caramba/Dinamo, the team played in the Latvian First League by using the licence received by FC Caramba, an unrelated team founded by future FK RFS co-founder Maksims Krivuņecs, which had won promotion to the 1. līga after winning the Latvian Second League in 2014.[2] After winning the 2015 First League and earning promotion to the Higher League, the club changed its name to Riga FC.[3]
In 2017, Riga FC acquired the Šitiks Football Academy (Šitika FA), founded in 2001 by Genādijs Šitiks, and operates as one of its youth academies, Riga FC Academy.[4][5]
In 2018, the Ukrainian Viktor Skrypnyk was appointed as coach. He managed to lead the club to two Latvian Higher Leagues in 2018, 2019 and the Latvian Football Cup in 2018.
Domestic edit
| Season | Division (Name) | Pos./Teams | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Latvian Football Cup | Top Scorer (League) | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2nd | 1/(16) | 30 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 142 | 14 | 84 | Round of 16 |  Verners Apiņš – 31
|
Mihails Koņevs
|
| 2016 | 1st | 5/(8) | 28 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 28 | 24 | 36 | Runner-up | Roberts Savaļnieks  Yōsuke Saitō – 5
|
 Kiril Kurbatov  Dmitri Khomukha Vladimir Volchek
|
| 2017 | 1st | 3/(7) | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 20 | 37 | Runner-up |  Bogdan Vaštšuk – 8
|
Vladimir Volchek Mihails Koņevs Yevgeny Perevertaylo  Slaviša Stojanovič
|
| 2018 | 1st | 1/(8) | 28 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 45 | 16 | 64 | Winner |  Darko Lemajić – 15
|
 Goce Sedloski Mihails Koņevs  Viktor Skrypnyk
|
| 2019 | 1st | 1/(9) | 32 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 59 | 21 | 66 | Semi-Finals | Roman Debelko – 7
|
 Luís Berkemeier Pimenta  Oleg Kubarev Mihails Koņevs
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| 2020 | 1st | 1/(10) | 27 | 23 | 0 | 4 | 60 | 21 | 69 | Quarter-finals |  Kule Mbombo – 12
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Oleg Kononov Mihails Koņevs
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| 2021 | 1st | 4/(9) | 28 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 54 | 26 | 50 | Semifinals |  Stefan Milošević – 13
|
 Denis Laktionov Kristaps Blanks Andris Rihters Sashko Poposki
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| 2022 | 1st | 2/(10) | 36 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 68 | 23 | 81 | Round of 16 |  Marcelo Torres – 11
|
 Thorsten Fink Kristaps Blanks  Sandro Perković
|
| 2023 | 1st | 2/(10) | 36 | 27 | 7 | 2 | 89 | 21 | 88 | Winner | Marko Regža – 19
|
Tomislav Stipić
|
European edit
Fully up to date as of 17 August 2023
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Champions League | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | –3 |
| UEFA Europa League | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 12 | –1 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 21 | +4 |
| Total | 33 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 37 | 37 | 0 |
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Agg. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | UEFA Europa League | 1QR |  CSKA Sofia
|
1−0 | 0−1 | 1−1[a] | 
|
| 2019–20 | UEFA Champions League | 1QR |  Dundalk
|
0−0 | 0−0 | 0−0[b] |
|
| UEFA Europa League | 2QR |  Piast Gliwice
|
2−1 | 2−3 | 4−4 (a) | 
| |
| 3QR |  HJK
|
1−1 | 2−2 | 3−3 (a) |
| ||
| PO |  Copenhagen
|
1−0 | 1−3 | 2−3 |
| ||
| 2020–21 | UEFA Champions League | 1QR |  Maccabi Tel Aviv
|
— | 0−2 | — |
|
| UEFA Europa League | 2QR |  Tre Fiori
|
1−0 | — | — |
| |
| 3QR |  Celtic
|
0−1 | — | — |
| ||
| 2021–22 | UEFA Champions League | 1QR |  Malmö
|
1−1 | 0−1 | 1−2 |
|
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2QR | Shkëndija
|
2−0 | 1−0 | 3−0 |
| |
| 3QR |  Hibernians
|
0−1 | 4−1 (a.e.t.) | 4−2 |
| ||
| PO |  Lincoln Red Imps
|
1−1 | 1−3 (a.e.t.) | 2−4 |
| ||
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1QR | Derry City
|
2−0 | 2−0 | 4−0 |
|
| 2QR |  Ružomberok
|
2−1 | 3−0 | 5−1 |
| ||
| 3QR | Gil Vicente
|
1−1 | 0−4 | 1−5 |
| ||
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1QR |  Víkingur Reykjavík
|
2−0 | 0−1 | 2−1 |
|
| 2QR |  Kecskemét
|
3−1 (a.e.t.) | 1−2 | 4−3 |
| ||
| 3QR |  Twente
|
0−3 | 0−2 | 0−5 |
| ||
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | 2QR |
- Notes
- 1QR: First qualifying round
- 2QR: Second qualifying round
- 3QR: Third qualifying round
- PO: Play-off round
Honours edit
- Latvian Higher League
- Latvian Cup
- Latvian First League
- Champions: 2015
Kits edit
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors edit
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Adidas | — |
| 2016 | Jako | — |
| 2017 | Marine Service Group | |
| 2018 | ||
| 2019 | ||
| 2020 | ||
| 2021 | ||
| 2022 |
        2016
|
   2017–18
|
   2019
|
    2020–22
|
|
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2016
|
    2017
|
    2018–19
|
    2020–22
|
   2021–22
|
|
Players edit
Current squad edit
- As of 16 March, 2024[6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Other players under contract edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Captains edit
| Season | Pos. | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | MF | Oļegs Laizāns
|
| 2017 | DF | Kaspars Gorkšs
|
| 2018 | DF | Volodymyr Bayenko
|
| 2019 | MF | Aleksejs Višņakovs
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| 2020 | MF | Stefan Panić
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| 2021 | DF | Antonijs Černomordijs
|
| 2022 | ||
| 2023 | MF | Miloš Jojić
|
Current staff edit
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Simo Valakari
|
| Assistant coach | Vjekoslav Miletić
|
| Coach | Sergejs Kožans
|
| Coach | Kristaps Blanks
|
| Goalkeeper coach |  Goran Brašnić
|
| Fitness coach | Milenko Kumić
|
| Physiotherapist | Roberts Krčmar
|
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Doctor | Viktors Simanovičs
|
| Doctor | Rolands Brencāns
|
Current board edit
As of 13 March 2021 [9]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Director-General | Aleksandrs Proņins
|
| Sport director | Aleksandrs Romašins
|
| Executive director | Romāns Lajuks
|
| Administrator | Deniss Čerņikovs
|
| Press officer | Krišs Upenieks
|
| Creative director | Sergejs Sobolevs
|
| Project manager | Andrejs Kaješovs
|
| Photographer | Zigismunds Zālmanis
|
| Video operator | Andrejs Guļko
|
Controversies edit
In 2020, it was reported that Russian businessman Sergey Lomakin, the owner of Riga FC, was included in Latvia's persona non grata list.[10] This was denied by the board of the club.[11]
Notable players edit
Former managers edit
| Coach | Period | Major Titles |
Domestic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from | until | days | LČ | LK | 1L | ||
| Mihails Koņevs
|
1 March 2015 | 30 November 2015 | 274 | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Kiril Kurbatov
|
1 January 2016 | 10 April 2016 | 100 | – | – | – | – |
| Dmitri Khomukha
|
11 April 2016 | 9 August 2016 | 120 | – | – | – | – |
| Vladimir Volchek
|
12 August 2016 | 19 April 2017 | 250 | – | – | – | – |
| Mihails Koņevs (caretaker)
|
20 April 2017 | 11 May 2017 | 21 | – | – | – | – |
| Yevgeny Perevertaylo
|
12 May 2017 | 29 July 2017 | 78 | – | – | – | – |
| Slaviša Stojanović
|
30 July 2017 | 31 December 2017 | 154 | – | – | – | – |
| Goce Sedloski
|
27 January 2018 | 25 May 2018 | 118 | – | – | – | – |
| Mihails Koņevs (caretaker)
|
26 May 2018 | 4 July 2018 | 39 | – | – | – | – |
| Viktor Skrypnyk
|
5 July 2018 | 31 January 2019 | 210 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Luís Berkemeier Pimenta
|
5 February 2019 | 2 March 2019 | 25 | – | – | – | – |
| Mihails Koņevs (caretaker)
|
3 March 2019 | 27 March 2019 | 24 | – | – | – | – |
| Oleg Kubarev
|
28 March 2019 | 26 April 2019 | 29 | – | – | – | – |
| Mihails Koņevs
|
27 April 2019 | 5 February 2020 | 284 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Oleg Kononov
|
5 February 2020 | 11 November 2020 | 280 | – | – | – | – |
| Mihails Koņevs (caretaker)
|
12 November 2020 | 31 December 2020 | 49 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Denis Laktionov
|
1 January 2021 | 25 May 2021 | 144 | – | – | – | – |
| Kristaps Blanks (caretaker)
|
27 May 2021 | 8 June 2021 | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| Andris Rihters
|
9 June 2021 | 10 September 2021 | 93 | – | – | – | – |
| Sashko Poposki (caretaker)
|
12 September 2021 | 30 November 2021 | 79 | – | – | – | – |
| Thorsten Fink
|
4 January 2022 | 16 May 2022 | 132 | – | – | – | – |
| Kristaps Blanks (caretaker)
|
16 May 2022 | 7 June 2022 | 22 | – | – | – | – |
| Sandro Perković
|
7 June 2022 | 7 January 2023 | 214 | – | – | – | – |
| Tomislav Stipić
|
7 January 2023 | 13 December 2023 | 340 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Simo Valakari
|
14 December 2023 | present | 135 | – | – | - | – |
Player records edit
Top goalscorers edit
- As of 11 November 2023
| # | Name | Years | League | Cup | Europe | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darko Lemajić |
2017 – 2019 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 26 |
| 2 | Marko Regža |
2023 – present | 19 | 1 | 1 | 21 |
| 3 | Mikael Soisalo |
2021 – 2023 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
| 4 |  Felipe Brisola |
2018 – 2021 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 18 |
| 5 | Douglas Aurélio |
2022 – present | 13 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| 6 | Gabriel Ramos |
2021 – 2022 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Stefan Milošević |
2020 – 2021 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 | |
| 8 | Kamil Biliński |
2018 – 2019 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 14 |
| Roman Debelko |
2019 – 2020 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 14 | |
| 10 | Marcelo Torres |
2022 – 2022 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
Bold signifies a current Riga FC player
Most appearances edit
- As of 30 November 2021
| # | Name | Years | League | Cup | Europe | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armands Pētersons |
2016 – present | 117 | 11 | 17 | 145 |
| 2 | Antonijs Černomordijs |
2016 – 2017 2018 – present |
96 | 9 | 15 | 120 |
| 3 | Oļegs Laizāns |
2016 – 2021 | 96 | 13 | 8 | 117 |
| 4 | Roberts Ozols |
2015 – present | 88 | 12 | 15 | 115 |
| 5 | Antons Kurakins |
2017 – present | 86 | 15 | 2 | 103 |
Bold signifies a current Riga FC player
Notes edit
- ^ Lost 5−3 on Penalty shootout.
- ^ Lost 5−4 on Penalty shootout.
References edit
- ^ LURSOFT (2019-04-01). "Riga Football Club , 40008223802 - company data". Lursoft. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
- ^ Novickis, Edmunds (2016-02-26). "Virslīgas kluba RFS pārstāvji ar entuziasmu: "Šis projekts 100% ir ilgtermiņa!"" [Representatives of Virslīga club RFS say with enthusiasm "This project is 100% long-term!"]. Sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ ""Caramba/Dinamo" pārmaiņas: jauns treneris, cits nosaukums un stadions". sportacentrs.com (in Latvian). 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Genādija Šitika trešais cikls". Sporto (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Par mums – Riga Football Club Academy". Retrieved 2023-10-18.
- ^ "Komanda" [A Team] (in Latvian). Riga FC. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Coaches and staff - Riga Football Club". www.rigafc.lv. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
- ^ "Coaches and staff – Riga FC". Riga FC. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Management and administration – Riga FC". Riga FC. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Pēdējo gadu Latvijas spēcīgākās futbola komandas īpašnieks iekļauts valstij nevēlamo personu sarakstā". Jauns.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ курс, The Baltic Course-Балтийский. "Latvian football club Riga owner Lomakin included on persona non grata list". The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
External links edit
- Official website
- https://futbolavirsliga.lv Official Latvia Higher Football League Website (in Latvian)
