2013 Latvian Higher League

Latvian Higher League
Season2013
ChampionsFK Ventspils
RelegatedIlūkstes NSS
Champions LeagueFK Ventspils
Europa LeagueDaugava Daugavpils
Daugava Riga
Matches played135
Goals scored392 (2.9 per match)
Top goalscorerArtūrs Karašausks
Andrejs Kovaļovs
(16 goals)
Biggest home winFK Daugava 7-1 Ilūkstes NSS
Biggest away winIlūkstes NSS 2-10 SK Liepājas Metalurgs
Highest scoringIlūkstes NSS 2-10 SK Liepājas Metalurgs
Longest winning runFK Ventspils, Skonto FC (6)
Longest unbeaten runSkonto FC (26)
Longest losing runIlūkstes 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]

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

Teams

[edit]

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

[edit]
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in the 2013 Latvian Higher League
Club Location Stadium Capacity
FC Daugava Daugavpils Daugava Stadium 4,100
FK Daugava Rīga Riga Daugava Stadium 5,000
Ilūkstes NSS Ilūkste Ilūkstes pilsētas stadions 500
FK Jelgava Jelgava Zemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs 2,200
FC Jūrmala Jūrmala Slokas Stadium 5,000
SK Liepājas Metalurgs Liepāja Daugava Stadium 6,000
FS Metta/LU Riga Stadions Arkādija 500
Skonto FC Riga Skonto Stadium 10,000
FK Spartaks Jūrmala Jūrmala Slokas Stadium 5,000
FK Ventspils 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 Daugavpils Moldova Ivan Tabanov Nigeria Daniel Ola Erreà —
FK Daugava Rīga Lithuania Virginijus Liubšys Lithuania Mantas Savenas Nike —
Ilūkstes NSS Latvia Alens Vinakurovs Russia Dmitri Kozlov Erreà —
FK Jelgava Latvia Sergejs Golubevs Latvia Deniss Petrenko Macron Igate
FC Jūrmala Latvia Mihails Koņevs Latvia Alberts Nikoļskis Givova —
SK Liepājas Metalurgs Latvia Jānis Intenbergs Latvia Antons Jemeļins Adidas —
FS Metta/LU Latvia Andris Riherts Latvia Artūrs Biezais Nike SMS Credit.lv
Skonto FC Georgia (country) Tamaz Pertia Latvia Juris Laizāns Jako Granat Investment
FK Spartaks Jūrmala Latvia Jurijs Popkovs Latvia Dmitrijs Daņilovs Nike —
FK Ventspils Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks Latvia Vitālijs Smirnovs Adidas VK Tranzīts

Managerial changes

[edit]
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Jelgava Latvia Dainis Kazakevičs Own decision 4 December 2012 Pre-Season Latvia Jānis Dreimanis 20 December 2012
Skonto Latvia Marians Pahars Own decision 22 December 2012 Pre-Season Georgia (country) Tamaz Pertia 22 December 2012
FK Daugava Rīga Latvia Jurijs Popkovs End of contract 27 December 2012 Pre-Season Lithuania Virginijus Liubšys 27 December 2012
FC Jūrmala Russia Vladimir Pachko End of contract 9 January 2013 Pre-Season Latvia Mihails Koņevs 9 January 2013
Spartaks Lithuania Arminas Narbekovas End of contract 10 December 2012 Pre-Season Belarus Oleg Kubarev 7 February 2013
Ilūkste Latvia Alens Vinakurovs Own decision 6 March 2013 Pre-Season Russia Vladimir Pachko 6 March 2013
Jelgava Latvia Jānis Dreimanis Health issues 22 March 2013 Pre-Season Latvia Sergejs Golubevs 22 March 2013
Spartaks Belarus Oleg Kubarev Sacked 27 July 2013 5th Latvia Aleksandrs Stradiņš 27 July 2013
Spartaks Latvia Aleksandrs Stradiņš Sacked 22 September 2013 6th Latvia Jurijs Popkovs 22 September 2013
Ilūkste Russia Vladimir Pachko Own decision End of September 10th Latvia Alens Vinakurovs End of September

Broadcasting

[edit]

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

[edit]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Ventspils (C) 27 21 4 2 65 19 +46 67 Qualification for Champions League second qualifying round
2 Skonto 27 18 8 1 68 11 +57 62 Excluded from European competitions[a]
3 Daugava Daugavpils 27 15 7 5 44 19 +25 52 Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round
4 Daugava Rīga 27 14 6 7 44 21 +23 48
5 Liepājas Metalurgs 27 11 7 9 54 35 +19 40 Dissolved after the season
6 Jūrmala 27 7 5 15 20 52 −32 26
7 Spartaks Jūrmala 27 7 4 16 30 49 −19 25
8 Jelgava 27 5 8 14 26 46 −20 23 Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round
9 METTA/LU (O) 27 4 7 16 15 47 −32 19 Qualification for relegation play-offs
10 Ilūkstes NSS (R) 27 2 6 19 26 93 −67 12 Relegation 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

[edit]

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/LU1–0FB Gulbene
Vapne 72' (pen.)
FB Gulbene2–4FS METTA/LU
Rimkus 26'
Kazura 33'		 Kalniņš 11', 85', 88'
Milašēvičs 67' (pen.)

FS METTA/LU won 5–2 on aggregate.

Results

[edit]

Season statistics

[edit]

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 9 November 2013
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Latvia Artūrs Karašausks Skonto FC 16
Latvia Andrejs Kovaļovs FC Daugava
2 Latvia Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC 15
3 Lithuania Mantas Savėnas Daugava Rīga 12
Russia Vadim Yanchuk FK Ventspils
4 Latvia Daniils Turkovs FK Ventspils 11
5 Lithuania Povilas Lukšys Daugava Rīga 10

Player of the Month

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

Manager of the Month

[edit]
Month Manager Club
March/April[7] Lithuania Virginijus Liubšys FK Daugava Rīga
May[8] Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils
June[9] Georgia (country) Tamaz Pertia Skonto FC
July[10] Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils
August[11] Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils
September[12] Latvia Sergejs Golubevs FK Jelgava
October/November[13] Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils

Team of the Tournament

[edit]

LFF version

[edit]
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Lithuania Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
Defender Latvia Antons Kurakins FK Ventspils
Defender Latvia Vitālijs Smirnovs FK Ventspils
Defender Latvia Nauris Bulvītis Skonto FC
Defender Latvia Vladislavs Gabovs Skonto FC
Midfielder Latvia Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Midfielder Latvia Aleksandrs Fertovs Skonto FC
Midfielder Latvia Juris Laizāns Skonto FC
Midfielder Turkmenistan Ruslan Mingazov Skonto FC
Forward Russia Vadim Yanchuk FK Ventspils
Forward Latvia Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC
Manager Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils

Sporta Avīze version

[edit]
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Lithuania Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
Defender Latvia Vladislavs Gabovs Skonto FC
Defender Latvia Kaspars Dubra FK Ventspils
Defender Latvia Renārs Rode Skonto FC
Midfielder Latvia Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Midfielder Latvia Valērijs Afanasjevs FK Liepājas Metalurgs
Midfielder Latvia Juris Laizāns Skonto FC
Midfielder Turkmenistan Ruslan Mingazov Skonto FC
Midfielder Latvia Andrejs Kovaļovs FC Daugava
Forward Latvia Artūrs Karašausks Skonto FC
Forward Latvia Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC
Manager Georgia (country) Tamaz Pertia Skonto FC

sportacentrs.com version

[edit]
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Lithuania Paulius Grybauskas Skonto FC
Defender Latvia Antons Kurakins FK Ventspils
Defender Latvia Renārs Rode Skonto FC
Defender Latvia Kaspars Dubra FK Ventspils
Defender Latvia Vladislavs Gabovs Skonto FC
Midfielder Latvia Juris Laizāns Skonto FC
Midfielder Latvia Jurijs Žigajevs FK Ventspils
Midfielder Latvia Andrejs Kovaļovs FC Daugava
Midfielder Turkmenistan Ruslan Mingazov Skonto FC
Forward Latvia Daniils Turkovs FK Ventspils
Forward Latvia Artūrs Karašausks Skonto FC
Manager Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks FK Ventspils

Awards

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

References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b Edmunds Novickis (2013-05-02). "Par mēneša labāko spēlētāju atzīts Savens, bet treneri – Ļubšis". Sportacentrs.com.
  8. ^ a b Edmunds Novickis (2013-06-05). "Maija labākais spēlētājs Virslīgā - Tvumasi". Sportacentrs.com.
  9. ^ a b Jānis Pārums (2013-07-02). "Virslīgas labākais spēlētājs jūnijā - Kovaļovs". Sportacentrs.com.
  10. ^ a b Edmunds Novickis (2013-08-05). "Par Virslīgas labākajiem jūlijā tiek atzīti Gribausks un Pučinsks". Sportacentrs.com.
  11. ^ a b Jānis Celmiņš (2013-09-04). "Virslīgas mēneša labākais spēlētājs - Mingazovs, treneris – Pučinskis". Sportacentrs.com.
  12. ^ a b Edmunds Novickis (2013-10-07). "Septembra labākais treneris - jelgavnieks Golubevs, spēlētājs - Laizāns". Sportacentrs.com.
  13. ^ a b 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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