2013 Latvian Higher League

Last updated
Latvian Higher League
Season2013
Champions FK Ventspils
Relegated Ilūkstes NSS
Champions League FK Ventspils
Europa League Daugava Daugavpils
Daugava Riga
Matches played135
Goals scored392 (2.9 per match)
Top goalscorer Artūrs Karašausks
Andrejs Kovaļovs
(16 goals)
Biggest home win FK Daugava 7-1 Ilūkstes NSS
Biggest away win Ilūkstes NSS 2-10 SK Liepājas Metalurgs
Highest scoring Ilūkstes NSS 2-10 SK Liepājas Metalurgs
Longest winning run FK Ventspils, Skonto FC (6)
Longest unbeaten run Skonto FC (26)
Longest losing run Ilūkstes NSS (7)
← 2012
2014 →

The 2013 Latvian Higher League was the 22nd season of top-tier football in Latvia. FC Daugava were the defending champions. The season started on 29 March 2013. [1]

Contents

The league comprised ten teams. The champions of this season were FK Ventspils, followed by Skonto FC

Teams

The league had a ten-team circuit like the 2012 season. 2012 Latvian First League champions Ilūkstes NSS from Ilūkste were directly promoted.

FK Daugava Rīga finished the 2012 season in ninth place and were therefore required to compete in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off against First Division runners-up BFC Daugava. FK Daugava Riga won the play-off 4–1 on aggregate and therefore stayed in the Higher League.

Stadiums and locations

ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
Flag of Daugavpils.svg FC Daugava Daugavpils Daugava Stadium 4,100
Flag of Riga.svg FK Daugava Rīga Riga Daugava Stadium 5,000
Coat of Arms of Ilukste.svg Ilūkstes NSS Ilūkste Ilūkstes pilsētas stadions 500
Bandera Jelgava.png FK Jelgava Jelgava Zemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs 2,200
Bandera jurmala.png FC Jūrmala Jūrmala Slokas Stadium 5,000
Flag of Liepaja.svg SK Liepājas Metalurgs Liepāja Daugava Stadium 6,000
Flag of Riga.svg FS Metta/LU Riga Stadions Arkādija 500
Flag of Riga.svg Skonto FC Riga Skonto Stadium 10,000
Bandera jurmala.png FK Spartaks Jūrmala JūrmalaSlokas Stadium5,000
Flag of Ventspils.svg FK Ventspils Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadium 3,200

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
FC Daugava Daugavpils Flag of Moldova.svg Ivan Tabanov Flag of Nigeria.svg Daniel Ola Erreà —
FK Daugava Rīga Flag of Lithuania.svg Virginijus Liubšys Flag of Lithuania.svg Mantas Savenas Nike —
Ilūkstes NSS Flag of Latvia.svg Alens Vinakurovs Flag of Russia.svg Dmitri Kozlov Erreà —
FK Jelgava Flag of Latvia.svg Sergejs Golubevs Flag of Latvia.svg Deniss Petrenko Macron Igate
FC Jūrmala Flag of Latvia.svg Mihails Koņevs Flag of Latvia.svg Alberts Nikoļskis Givova —
SK Liepājas Metalurgs Flag of Latvia.svg Jānis Intenbergs Flag of Latvia.svg Antons Jemeļins Adidas —
FS Metta/LU Flag of Latvia.svg Andris Riherts Flag of Latvia.svg Artūrs Biezais Nike SMS Credit.lv
Skonto FC Flag of Georgia.svg Tamaz Pertia Flag of Latvia.svg Juris Laizāns Jako Granat Investment
FK Spartaks Jūrmala Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Popkovs Flag of Latvia.svg Dmitrijs Daņilovs Nike —
FK Ventspils Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks Flag of Latvia.svg Vitālijs Smirnovs Adidas VK Tranzīts

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Jelgava Flag of Latvia.svg Dainis Kazakevičs Own decision4 December 2012Pre-Season Flag of Latvia.svg Jānis Dreimanis 20 December 2012
Skonto Flag of Latvia.svg Marians Pahars Own decision22 December 2012Pre-Season Flag of Georgia.svg Tamaz Pertia 22 December 2012
FK Daugava Rīga Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Popkovs End of contract27 December 2012Pre-Season Flag of Lithuania.svg Virginijus Liubšys 27 December 2012
FC Jūrmala Flag of Russia.svg Vladimir Pachko End of contract9 January 2013Pre-Season Flag of Latvia.svg Mihails Koņevs 9 January 2013
Spartaks Flag of Lithuania.svg Arminas Narbekovas End of contract10 December 2012Pre-Season Flag of Belarus.svg Oleg Kubarev 7 February 2013
Ilūkste Flag of Latvia.svg Alens Vinakurovs Own decision6 March 2013Pre-Season Flag of Russia.svg Vladimir Pachko 6 March 2013
Jelgava Flag of Latvia.svg Jānis Dreimanis Health issues22 March 2013Pre-Season Flag of Latvia.svg Sergejs Golubevs 22 March 2013
Spartaks Flag of Belarus.svg Oleg Kubarev Sacked27 July 20135th Flag of Latvia.svg Aleksandrs Stradiņš 27 July 2013
Spartaks Flag of Latvia.svg Aleksandrs Stradiņš Sacked22 September 20136th Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Popkovs 22 September 2013
Ilūkste Flag of Russia.svg Vladimir Pachko Own decisionEnd of September10th Flag of Latvia.svg Alens Vinakurovs End of September

Broadcasting

As in the previous season most of the matches are being transmitted live via sportacentrs.com online and sportacentrs TV channel. [2] In June 2012 broadcasting rights were also bought by the English company Bet365. [3] Since 2012, the league's homepage futbolavirsliga.lv has been active and since September 2012 this website has been accompanied by the InStat Football system, showing information and analysis of each match individually. [4] Since October 2012, the Virslīga has also had its own analytical broadcast after each round of matches with football experts discussing the games and future events connected to Latvian football. It is transmitted via sportacentrs TV. [5]

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1 Ventspils (C)2721426519+4667Qualification for Champions League second qualifying round
2 Skonto 2718816811+5762Excluded from European competitions [lower-alpha 1]
3 Daugava Daugavpils 2715754419+2552Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round
4 Daugava Rīga 2714674421+2348
5 Liepājas Metalurgs 2711795435+1940Dissolved after the season
6 Jūrmala 2775152052−3226
7 Spartaks Jūrmala 2774163049−1925
8 Jelgava 2758142646−2023Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round
9 METTA/LU (O)2747161547−3219Qualification for relegation play-offs
10 Ilūkstes NSS (R)2726192693−6712Relegation to Latvian First League
Source: LFF:Virslīga 2013
Rules for classification: 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th overall wins; 5th goal difference; 6th goals scored. The winners of the 2013–14 Latvian Football Cup competition will qualify for the first qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ↑ UEFA barred Skonto from European competitions for three years for falling foul of Financial Fair Play regulations. [6]

Relegation play-offs

The 9th-placed sides will face the runners-up of the 2013 Latvian First League in a two-legged play-off, with the winner being awarded a spot in the 2014 Higher League competition.

FS METTA/LU 1–0 FB Gulbene
Vapne Soccerball shade.svg72' (pen.)
Hanzas vidusskolas laukums, Riga
FB Gulbene 2–4 FS METTA/LU
Rimkus Soccerball shade.svg26'
Kazura Soccerball shade.svg33'		 Kalniņš Soccerball shade.svg11', 85', 88'
Milašēvičs Soccerball shade.svg67' (pen.)
Hanzas vidusskolas laukums, Riga

FS METTA/LU won 5–2 on aggregate.

Results

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 9 November 2013
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Flag of Latvia.svg Artūrs Karašausks Skonto FC 16
Flag of Latvia.svg Andrejs Kovaļovs FC Daugava
2 Flag of Latvia.svg Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC 15
3 Flag of Lithuania.svg Mantas Savėnas Daugava Rīga 12
Flag of Russia.svg Vadim Yanchuk FK Ventspils
4 Flag of Latvia.svg Daniils Turkovs FK Ventspils 11
5 Flag of Lithuania.svg Povilas Lukšys Daugava Rīga 10

Player of the Month

MonthPlayerClub
March/April [7] Flag of Lithuania.svg Mantas Savenas FK Daugava Rīga
May [8] Flag of Ghana.svg Patrick Twumasi FK Spartaks Jūrmala
June [9] Flag of Latvia.svg Andrejs Kovaļovs FC Daugava
July [10] Flag of Lithuania.svg Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
August [11] Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ruslan Mingazow Skonto FC
September [12] Flag of Latvia.svg Juris Laizāns Skonto FC
October/November [13] Flag of Latvia.svg Kaspars Ikstens FK Jelgava

Manager of the Month

MonthManagerClub
March/April [7] Flag of Lithuania.svg Virginijus Liubšys FK Daugava Rīga
May [8] Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils
June [9] Flag of Georgia.svg Tamaz Pertia Skonto FC
July [10] Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils
August [11] Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils
September [12] Flag of Latvia.svg Sergejs Golubevs FK Jelgava
October/November [13] Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils

Team of the Tournament

LFF version

PositionPlayerClub
Goalkeeper Flag of Lithuania.svg Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Antons Kurakins FK Ventspils
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Vitālijs Smirnovs FK Ventspils
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Nauris Bulvītis Skonto FC
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Vladislavs Gabovs Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Aleksandrs Fertovs Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Juris Laizāns Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ruslan Mingazov Skonto FC
Forward Flag of Russia.svg Vadim Yanchuk FK Ventspils
Forward Flag of Latvia.svg Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC
Manager Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils

Sporta Avīze version

PositionPlayerClub
Goalkeeper Flag of Lithuania.svg Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Vladislavs Gabovs Skonto FC
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Kaspars Dubra FK Ventspils
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Renārs Rode Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Valērijs Afanasjevs FK Liepājas Metalurgs
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Juris Laizāns Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ruslan Mingazov Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Andrejs Kovaļovs FC Daugava
Forward Flag of Latvia.svg Artūrs Karašausks Skonto FC
Forward Flag of Latvia.svg Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC
Manager Flag of Georgia.svg Tamaz Pertia Skonto FC

sportacentrs.com version

PositionPlayerClub
Goalkeeper Flag of Lithuania.svg Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Antons Kurakins FK Ventspils
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Renārs Rode Skonto FC
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Kaspars Dubra FK Ventspils
Defender Flag of Latvia.svg Vladislavs Gabovs Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Juris Laizāns Skonto FC
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Andrejs Kovaļovs FC Daugava
Midfielder Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ruslan Mingazov Skonto FC
Forward Flag of Latvia.svg Daniils Turkovs FK Ventspils
Forward Flag of Latvia.svg Artūrs Karašausks Skonto FC
Manager Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils

Awards

LFF awards 2013
CategoryWinnerClub
Best goalkeeper Flag of Lithuania.svg Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
Best defender Flag of Latvia.svg Vladislavs Gabovs Skonto FC
Best midfielder Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Best forward Flag of Latvia.svg Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC
Top scorer Flag of Latvia.svg Artūrs Karašausks / Flag of Latvia.svg Andrejs Kovaļovs Skonto FC / FC Daugava
Best U-21 player Flag of Latvia.svg Jevgēņijs Kazačoks FK Spartaks Jūrmala
Best player Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Best manager Flag of Latvia.svg Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils
Goal of the season Flag of Latvia.svg Jurijs Žigajevs vs FK Spartaks Jūrmala [14] FK Ventspils
Fair play awardClub award FC Jūrmala
Best match organisationClub award FK Liepājas Metalurgs

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References

  1. ↑ "Virslīgas 2013.gada sezona sāksies 29.martā" (in Latvian). Futbolavirsliga.lv. Archived from the original on 2013-02-19. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  2. ↑ "sportacentrs.com". sportacentrs.com. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Pirmo reizi vēsturē pārdotas Latvijas virslīgas futbola čempionāta interneta translāciju tiesības | Kasjauns.lv". kasjauns.lv. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgā plāno ieviest kvalitatīvu statistikas un analīzes sistēmu". Archived from the original on 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  5. ↑ "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgai savs analītiskais raidījums". Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  6. ↑ Protecting The Game: Metalurh, Skonto excluded; Petrolul cleared - UEFA.com, 4 April 2014
  7. 1 2 Edmunds Novickis (2013-05-02). "Par mēneša labāko spēlētāju atzīts Savens, bet treneri – Ļubšis". Sportacentrs.com.
  8. 1 2 Edmunds Novickis (2013-06-05). "Maija labākais spēlētājs Virslīgā - Tvumasi". Sportacentrs.com.
  9. 1 2 Jānis Pārums (2013-07-02). "Virslīgas labākais spēlētājs jūnijā - Kovaļovs". Sportacentrs.com.
  10. 1 2 Edmunds Novickis (2013-08-05). "Par Virslīgas labākajiem jūlijā tiek atzīti Gribausks un Pučinsks". Sportacentrs.com.
  11. 1 2 Jānis Celmiņš (2013-09-04). "Virslīgas mēneša labākais spēlētājs - Mingazovs, treneris – Pučinskis". Sportacentrs.com.
  12. 1 2 Edmunds Novickis (2013-10-07). "Septembra labākais treneris - jelgavnieks Golubevs, spēlētājs - Laizāns". Sportacentrs.com.
  13. 1 2 Jānis Rubulis (2013-11-14). "SMScredit.lv Virslīgas mēneša labākie - Ikstens un Pučinsks". Sportacentrs.com.
  14. ↑ Egils Broks (2013-09-28). "Video: Žigajevs gūst fantastiskus vārtus šķērītē". Sportacentrs.com.
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