Juris Laizāns (born 6 January 1979) is a Latvian former professional footballer. A midfielder, he spent a large part of his playing career abroad in Russia. He made 113 appearances for the Latvia national team scoring 15 goals.

Juris Laizāns
Laizāns with Fakel in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-01-06) 6 January 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Riga, Latvian SSR, USSR
(now Republic of Latvia)
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Skonto Riga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Skonto Riga 81 (10)
2001–2005 CSKA Moscow 79 (5)
2005 Torpedo Moscow 9 (1)
2006 Rostov 21 (1)
2007 Kuban Krasnodar 24 (4)
2008 Shinnik Yaroslavl 24 (1)
2009 RFS/Olimps 10 (0)
2009 Ventspils 6 (1)
2010 Skonto Riga 11 (1)
2010 Salyut Belgorod 13 (1)
2011 Skonto Riga 14 (2)
2011–2012 Fakel Voronezh 17 (3)
2012–2014 Skonto Riga 32 (3)
Total 341 (33)
International career
1998–2013 Latvia 113 (15)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career edit

Born in Riga, Laizāns started his career with Skonto FC and moved to the Russian team CSKA Moscow in 2000. His team managed to win the UEFA Cup. After leaving CSKA Laizāns kept playing in Russia for FC Torpedo Moscow, FC Rostov, FC Kuban Krasnodar and FC Shinnik Yaroslavl. In 2009, he came back to Latvia, signing for Olimps/RFS, later also playing for FK Ventspils and participating in the UEFA Europa League group stages. Laizāns signed for Skonto FC at the start of 2010, but left the team soon - he joined the Russian team FC Salyut Belgorod. At the end of the season he was released, and he returned to Skonto FC. Playing 14 matches and scoring two goals, he again left Riga, this time in July 2011 for Fakel Voronezh, playing in the Russian First League.[1] After a season spent in Russia, Laizāns again joined Skonto on 30 August 2012.[2] Laizāns played for Skonto till April 2014, afterwards ending his professional footballer's career.[3]

International career edit

Laizāns played 113 international matches and scored 15 goals for Latvia. He debuted in 1998 and played at the Euro 2004. His last official international match was a friendly against Republic of Ireland on 15 November 2013.[4] As of 2014, Laizāns ranks third in the list of Latvia's most capped players internationally with 113 appearances. His 15 goals for the national team rank him fifth in the table of top scorers.

Post-playing career edit

After the end of his professional footballer's career on 11 April 2014, Laizāns accepted an offer from the Russian Premier League club FC Krasnodar to become a member of their scouting staff.[5]

Career statistics edit

Honours edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Laizāns pārceļas uz Krievijas 1. Līgas vājāko klubu "Fakel"". 24 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Juris Laizāns atgriežas "Skonto" – Virslīga – Futbols – Sportacentrs.…". Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Juris Laizāns noslēdz futbolista karjeru". 11 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Latvijas Futbola federācija".
  5. ^ ""Krasnodar" apstiprina Laizāna pievienošanos komandai". 11 April 2014.

External links edit