2012 Latvian Higher League
Season | 2012 |
---|---|
Champions | FC Daugava |
Relegated | FB Gulbene |
Champions League | FC Daugava |
Europa League | Skonto Riga FK Ventspils SK Liepājas Metalurgs |
Matches played | 180 |
Goals scored | 494 (2.74 per match) |
Top goalscorer | Mamuka Ghonghadze (18) |
Biggest home win | Jūrmala 6-1 Daugava Daugavpils Skonto Rīga 5-0 Metta/LU Ventspils 5-0 Daugava Rīga |
Biggest away win | Metta/LU 1-6 Ventspils Gulbene 2005 0-5 Ventspils Metta/LU 0-5 Daugava Daugavpils |
Highest scoring | Jelgava 3-4 Daugava Rīga Metta/LU 1-6 Ventspils Jūrmala 6-1 Daugava Daugavpils Daugava Rīga 2-5 Spartaks Spartaks 3-4 Metta/LU |
← 2011 2013 → |
The 2012 Latvian Higher League was the 21st season of top-tier football in Latvia. It began on 24 March 2012 and ended on 10 November 2012.[1] FK Ventspils are the defending champions.
The league comprised ten teams, one more than in the previous season.
Teams
[edit]The league returned to a ten-team circuit after having been forced to play the 2011 season with only nine teams, following the withdrawal of SK Blāzma a few weeks before the season commenced. As a consequence of the Blāzma withdrawal, no team was directly relegated.
2011 Latvian First League champions FS METTA/Latvijas Universitāte from Riga were directly promoted. The team, which was founded by the METTA football school and the University of Latvia in 2007, entered the Higher League for the first time in their history.
JFK Olimps/RFS finished the 2011 season in ninth place and were therefore required to compete in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off against First Division runners-up Spartaks Jūrmala. Spartaks won the play-off 4–1 on aggregate and were therefore promoted to the Higher League. Similar to METTA/LU, they made their debut at the highest level of the Latvian football pyramid. Accordingly, Olimps/RFS were relegated to the First League after five seasons at the top flight.
Stadiums and locations
[edit]Following the promotion of FK Spartaks, the city of Jūrmala should have featured three clubs during the 2012 season, one more than the capital, Riga, but FK Jūrmala-VV moved to Riga, changing their name to Daugava Riga.
Club | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Daugavpils | Daugava Stadium | 4,100 |
![]() | Riga | Daugava Stadium | 5,000 |
![]() | Gulbene | Gulbenes Sporta Centrs | 1,500 |
![]() | Jelgava | Zemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs | 2,200 |
![]() | Jūrmala | Slokas Stadium | 5,000 |
![]() | Liepāja | Daugava Stadium | 5,083 |
![]() | Riga | Rīgas 49. vidusskola Stadium | 250 |
![]() | Riga | Skonto Stadium | 10,000 |
![]() | Jūrmala | Slokas Stadium | 5,000 |
![]() | Ventspils | Olimpiskais Stadium | 3,200 |
Personnel and kits
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|---|---|
FC Daugava | ![]() | ![]() | Erreà | — |
FK Daugava Rīga | ![]() | ![]() | Adidas | — |
FB Gulbene | ![]() | ![]() | Erreà | Piebalga |
FK Jelgava | ![]() | ![]() | Macron | LDz Cargo |
FC Jūrmala | ![]() | ![]() | Givova | — |
SK Liepājas Metalurgs | ![]() | ![]() | Adidas | — |
FS Metta/LU | ![]() | ![]() | Nike | SMS Credit.lv |
Skonto FC | ![]() | ![]() | Kappa | — |
FK Spartaks Jūrmala | ![]() | ![]() | Masita | — |
FK Ventspils | ![]() | ![]() | Adidas | VK Tranzīts |
Managerial changes
[edit]Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daugava Daugavpils | ![]() | Sacked | 2011-12-22 | pre-season | ![]() | 2011-12-22 |
Spartaks Jūrmala | ![]() | Sacked | 2012-02-02 | pre-season | ![]() | 2012-02-02 |
Daugava Daugavpils | ![]() | Sacked | 2012-04-29[2] | 5th | ![]() | 2012-05-05 |
Liepājas Metalurgs | ![]() | Sacked | 2012-05-01[3] | 6th | ![]() | 2012-05-24 |
FK Ventspils | ![]() | Sacked | 2012-05-18[4] | 4th | ![]() | 2012-05-18 |
Spartaks Jūrmala | ![]() | Sacked | 2012-07-20 | 4th | ![]() | 2012-07-23 |
Broadcasting
[edit]Just as last season most of the matches were transmitted live via sportacentrs.com online and Sportacentrs' TV channel.[5] In June 2012 broadcasting rights were also bought by the English company Bet365.[6] Since 2012 league's homepage futbolavirsliga.lv has been active and since September 2012 this website has been accompanied by InStat Football system, showing information and analysis of each match individually.[7] Since October 2012 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's transmitted via Sportacentrs TV.[8]
League table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Daugava Daugavpils (C) | 36 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 64 | 25 | +39 | 78 | Qualification for Champions League second qualifying round |
2 | Skonto | 36 | 21 | 11 | 4 | 58 | 22 | +36 | 74 | Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round |
3 | Ventspils | 36 | 23 | 5 | 8 | 63 | 22 | +41 | 74 | Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round[a] |
4 | Liepājas Metalurgs | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 60 | 33 | +27 | 70 | Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round |
5 | Spartaks Jūrmala | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 61 | 56 | +5 | 49 | |
6 | Jūrmala | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 39 | |
7 | Jelgava | 36 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 32 | 56 | −24 | 31 | |
8 | METTA/LU | 36 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 39 | 82 | −43 | 29 | |
9 | Daugava Rīga (O) | 36 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 42 | 79 | −37 | 27 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
10 | FB Gulbene (R) | 36 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 28 | 70 | −42 | 24 | Relegation to Latvian First League |
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
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ Winners of the 2012–13 Latvian Football Cup.
Relegation play-offs
[edit]The 9th-placed sides will face the runners-up of the 2012 Latvian First League in a two-legged play-off, with the winner being awarded a spot in the 2013 Higher League competition. The dates and exact sequence of these matches are still to be determined.
FK Daugava Rīga | 1–0 | BFC Daugava |
---|---|---|
Broders ![]() | Report |
BFC Daugava | 1–3 | FK Daugava Rīga |
---|---|---|
Ostrovskis ![]() | Report | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Results
[edit]
|
Season statistics
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]- As of 7 November 2012
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | FC Daugava | 18 |
2 | ![]() | FB Gulbene/FK Ventspils | 15 |
3 | ![]() | FK Spartaks Jūrmala | 12 |
![]() | FK Ventspils | ||
5 | ![]() | FK Spartaks Jūrmala | 11 |
![]() | Skonto FC | ||
![]() | Skonto FC | ||
7 | ![]() | FC Daugava | 10 |
![]() | SK Liepājas Metalurgs | ||
![]() | SK Liepājas Metalurgs | ||
![]() | FS Metta/LU | ||
![]() | FK Spartaks Jūrmala | ||
![]() | FK Daugava Rīga |
Player of the Month
[edit]Month | Player | Club |
---|---|---|
March/April[9] | ![]() | Gulbene |
May[10] | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
June[11] | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
July[12] | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
August[13] | ![]() | Liepājas Metalurgs |
September[14] | ![]() | Liepājas Metalurgs |
October/November[15] | ![]() | Liepājas Metalurgs |
Manager of the Month
[edit]Month | Manager | Club |
---|---|---|
March/April[9] | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
May[10] | ![]() | Spartaks Jūrmala |
June[11] | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
July[12] | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
August[13] | ![]() | Ventspils |
September[14] | ![]() | Metta/LU |
October/November[16] | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Team of the Tournament
[edit]LFF version
[edit]Position | Player | Club |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Defender | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Defender | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Defender | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Defender | ![]() | Spartaks Jūrmala |
Midfielder | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Midfielder | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Midfielder | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Forward | ![]() | Liepājas Metalurgs |
Forward | ![]() | Ventspils |
Forward | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Manager | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Sportacentrs.com version
[edit]Position | Player | Club |
---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | ![]() | Ventspils |
Defender | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Defender | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Defender | ![]() | Ventspils |
Defender | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Midfielder | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Midfielder | ![]() | Ventspils |
Midfielder | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Forward | ![]() | Liepājas Metalurgs |
Forward | ![]() | Ventspils |
Forward | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Manager | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Awards
[edit]LFF awards 2012 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Winner | Club |
Best goalkeeper | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Best defender | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Best midfielder | ![]() | Liepājas Metalurgs |
Best forward | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Top scorer | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Best U-21 player | ![]() | Skonto Riga |
Best player | ![]() | Liepājas Metalurgs |
Best manager | ![]() | Daugava Daugavpils |
Fair play award | Club | Daugava Daugavpils |
Best match organisation | Club | Metta/LU |
References
[edit]- ^ "2012.gada LATVIJAS FUTBOLA VIRSLĪGAS, SPĒĻU KALENDĀRS". Latvian Football Federation. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- ^ "Daugavpils Daugava atlaiž galveno treneri Sabitovu". Diena.lv. 2012-05-01.
- ^ "Osipovs atlaists no "Liepājas metalurgs" futbola komandas galvenā trenera amata". Kasjauns.lv. 2012-05-02.
- ^ "FK "Ventspils" atlaiž galveno treneri Podpaliju". TVNET. 2012-05-17.
- ^ "Sportacentrs TV – Sportacentrs.com". sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ "Pirmo reizi vēsturē pārdotas Latvijas virslīgas futbola čempionāta interneta translāciju tiesības | Kasjauns.lv". kasjauns.lv. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- ^ "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgā plāno ieviest kvalitatīvu statistikas un analīzes sistēmu". Archived from the original on 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
- ^ "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgai savs analītiskais raidījums". Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ^ a b Edmunds Novickis (2012-05-07). "Virslīgas marta/aprīļa labākais spēlētājs Saito, treneris - Pahars". Sportacentrs.com.
- ^ a b Jānis Celmiņš (2012-06-05). "Virslīgas labākais spēlētājs maijā – Gongadze; treneris – Blagonadeždins". Sportacentrs.com.
- ^ a b Andris Liepa (2012-07-10). "Labākie jūnijā - Šabala un Pahars". Sportacentrs.com.
- ^ a b Jānis Celmiņš (2012-08-07). "Jūlijā labākie Daugavpils "Daugavas" pārstāvji Jašins un Tabanovs". Sportacentrs.com.
- ^ a b Andrejs Siliņš (2012-09-10). "Virslīgas labākais augustā - Leliūga". Sportacentrs.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21.
- ^ a b Andris Liepa (2012-10-04). "Labākie septembrī - Karlsons un Riherts". Sportacentrs.com.
- ^ Andris Liepa (2012-11-07). "Oktobra/novembra labākais spēlētājs Kamešs, treneris – Tabanovs". Sportacentrs.com.
- ^ Andris Liepa (2012-11-07). "Oktobra/novembra labākais spēlētājs Kamešs, treneris – Tabanovs". Sportacentrs.com.
External links
[edit]- Latvian Football Federation (in Latvian)