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2012 Latvian Higher League

Latvian football league season for the highest division


Latvian football league season for the highest division

FieldValue
competitionLatvian Higher League
season2012
winnersFC Daugava
relegatedFB Gulbene
continentalcup1Champions League
continentalcup1 qualifiersFC Daugava
continentalcup2Europa League
continentalcup2 qualifiersSkonto Riga
FK Ventspils
SK Liepājas Metalurgs
continentalcup3Baltic League
matches180
total goals494
league topscorerMamuka Ghonghadze (18)
biggest home winJūrmala 6-1 Daugava Daugavpils
Skonto Rīga 5-0 Metta/LU
Ventspils 5-0 Daugava Rīga
biggest away winMetta/LU 1-6 Ventspils
Gulbene 2005 0-5 Ventspils
Metta/LU 0-5 Daugava Daugavpils
highest scoringJelgava 3-4 Daugava Rīga
Metta/LU 1-6 Ventspils
Jūrmala 6-1 Daugava Daugavpils
Daugava Rīga 2-5 Spartaks
Spartaks 3-4 Metta/LU
prevseason2011
nextseason2013

FK Ventspils SK Liepājas Metalurgs Skonto Rīga 5-0 Metta/LU Ventspils 5-0 Daugava Rīga Gulbene 2005 0-5 Ventspils Metta/LU 0-5 Daugava Daugavpils Metta/LU 1-6 Ventspils Jūrmala 6-1 Daugava Daugavpils Daugava Rīga 2-5 Spartaks Spartaks 3-4 Metta/LU

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. FK Ventspils are the defending champions.

The league comprised ten teams, one more than in the previous season.

Teams

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

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.

ClubLocationStadiumCapacity
[[File:Flag of Daugavpils.svgborder20px]] FC DaugavaDaugavpilsDaugava Stadium4,100
[[File:Flag of Riga.svgborder20px]] FK Daugava RīgaRigaDaugava Stadium5,000
[[File:Flag of Gulbene.svgborder20px]] FB GulbeneGulbeneGulbenes Sporta Centrs1,500
[[File:Jelgava flag.svgborder20px]] FK JelgavaJelgavaZemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs2,200
[[File:Flag of Jurmala.svgborder20px]] FC JūrmalaJūrmalaSlokas Stadium5,000
[[File:Flag of Liepāja.svgborder20px]] SK Liepājas MetalurgsLiepājaDaugava Stadium5,083
[[File:Flag of Riga.svgborder20px]] FS Metta/LURigaRīgas 49. vidusskola Stadium250
[[File:Flag of Riga.svgborder20px]] Skonto FCRigaSkonto Stadium10,000
[[File:Flag of Jurmala.svgborder20px]] FK Spartaks JūrmalaJūrmalaSlokas Stadium5,000
[[File:Flag of Ventspils.svgborder20px]] FK VentspilsVentspilsOlimpiskais Stadium3,200

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 DaugavaMDA Ivan TabanovLAT Jurijs SokolovsErreà
FK Daugava RīgaLAT Jurijs PopkovsLAT Vadims GospodarsAdidas
FB GulbeneLAT Mihails KoņevsLAT Alberts NikoļskisErreàPiebalga
FK JelgavaLAT Dainis KazakevičsLAT Valērijs RedjkoMacronLDz Cargo
FC JūrmalaLAT Vladimirs PačkoLAT Maksims DaņilovsGivova
SK Liepājas MetalurgsLAT Jānis IntenbergsLTU Tomas TamošauskasAdidas
FS Metta/LULAT Andris RihertsLAT Romāns RožkovskisNikeSMS Credit.lv
Skonto FCLAT Marians PaharsLAT Germans MāliņšKappa
FK Spartaks JūrmalaLTU Arminas NarbekovasLAT Nauris BulvītisMasita
FK VentspilsLAT Jurģis PučinskisLAT Vitālijs SmirnovsAdidasVK Tranzīts

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Daugava DaugavpilsRussia Leonid NazarenkoSacked2011-12-22pre-seasonRussia Ravil Sabitov2011-12-22
Spartaks JūrmalaLatvia Artūrs ŠketovsSacked2012-02-02pre-seasonLatvia Oļegs Blagonadeždins2012-02-02
Daugava DaugavpilsRussia Ravil SabitovSacked2012-04-295thMoldova Ivan Tabanov2012-05-05
Liepājas MetalurgsLatvia Vladimirs OsipovsSacked2012-05-016thLatvia Jānis Intenbergs2012-05-24
FK VentspilsUkraine Sergey PodpalySacked2012-05-184thLatvia Jurģis Pučinskis2012-05-18
Spartaks JūrmalaLatvia Oļegs BlagonadeždinsSacked2012-07-204thLithuania Arminas Narbekovas2012-07-23

Broadcasting

Just as last season most of the matches were transmitted live via sportacentrs.com online and Sportacentrs' TV channel. In June 2012 broadcasting rights were also bought by the English company Bet365. 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. 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 TV.

League table

Relegation play-offs

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.


Kapustas Kārkliņš

Results

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1Georgia Mamuka GhonghadzeFC Daugava18
2JPN Yōsuke SaitoFB Gulbene/FK Ventspils15
3COL David CortésFK Spartaks Jūrmala12
LAT Daniils TurkovsFK Ventspils
5LAT Antons JemeļinsFK Spartaks Jūrmala11
LTU Tadas LabukasSkonto FC
LAT Valērijs ŠabalaSkonto FC
7Nigeria Stanley IbeFC Daugava10
LAT Valērijs AfanasjevsSK Liepājas Metalurgs
LAT Vladimirs KamešsSK Liepājas Metalurgs
Latvia Mārtiņš MilašēvičsFS Metta/LU
Ghana Patrick TwumasiFK Spartaks Jūrmala
Latvia Vitālijs ZiļsFK Daugava Rīga

Player of the Month

MonthPlayerClub
url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/07052012-virsligas_marta_aprila_labakais_speletajstitle=Virslīgas marta/aprīļa labākais spēlētājs Saito, treneris - Paharsauthor=Edmunds Novickisdate=2012-05-07publisher= Sportacentrs.com}}JPN Yōsuke SaitoGulbene
url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/05062012-virsligas_labakais_speletajs_maija_gongadtitle=Virslīgas labākais spēlētājs maijā – Gongadze; treneris – Blagonadeždinsauthor=Jānis Celmiņšdate=2012-06-05publisher= Sportacentrs.com}}GEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava Daugavpils
url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/10072012-labakie_junija_sabala_un_paharstitle=Labākie jūnijā - Šabala un Paharsauthor=Andris Liepadate=2012-07-10publisher= Sportacentrs.com}}LVA Valērijs ŠabalaSkonto Riga
url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/07082012-julija_labakie_daugavpils_daugavas_parstatitle= Jūlijā labākie Daugavpils "Daugavas" pārstāvji Jašins un Tabanovsauthor=Jānis Celmiņšdate=2012-08-07publisher= Sportacentrs.com}}RUS Sergei YashinDaugava Daugavpils
url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/10092012-virsligas_labakais_augusta_leliugatitle=Virslīgas labākais augustā - Leliūgaauthor=Andrejs Siliņšdate=2012-09-10publisher=Sportacentrs.comurl-status=deadarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021071606/http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/10092012-virsligas_labakais_augusta_leliugaarchive-date=2012-10-21 }}LTU Rytis LeliūgaLiepājas Metalurgs
url=http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/04102012-labakie_septembri_karlsons_un_rihertstitle=Labākie septembrī - Karlsons un Rihertsauthor=Andris Liepadate=2012-10-04publisher= Sportacentrs.com}}LAT Ģirts KarlsonsLiepājas Metalurgs
October/NovemberLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas Metalurgs

Manager of the Month

MonthManagerClub
March/AprilLAT Marians PaharsSkonto Riga
MayLAT Oļegs BlagonadeždinsSpartaks Jūrmala
JuneLAT Marians PaharsSkonto Riga
JulyMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils
AugustLAT Jurģis PučinsksVentspils
SeptemberLAT Andris RihertsMetta/LU
October/NovemberMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils

Team of the Tournament

LFF version

PositionPlayerClub
GoalkeeperLAT Germans MāliņšSkonto Riga
DefenderRUS Dmitri PolovinchukDaugava Daugavpils
DefenderLVA Vitālijs MaksimenkoSkonto Riga
DefenderLAT Igors SavčenkovsSkonto Riga
DefenderLAT Nauris BulvītisSpartaks Jūrmala
MidfielderNGA Daniel OlaDaugava Daugavpils
MidfielderLAT Aleksandrs FertovsSkonto Riga
MidfielderTKM Ruslan MingazovSkonto Riga
ForwardLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas Metalurgs
ForwardJPN Yosuke SaitoVentspils
ForwardGEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava Daugavpils
ManagerMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils

Sportacentrs.com version

PositionPlayerClub
GoalkeeperLAT Maksims UvarenkoVentspils
DefenderRUS Dmitri PolovinchukDaugava Daugavpils
DefenderLVA Vitālijs MaksimenkoSkonto Riga
DefenderLAT Vitālijs SmirnovsVentspils
DefenderLAT Jurijs SokolovsDaugava Daugavpils
MidfielderNGA Daniel OlaDaugava Daugavpils
MidfielderLAT Igors TarasovsVentspils
MidfielderLAT Mihails ZiziļevsDaugava Daugavpils
ForwardLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas Metalurgs
ForwardNGA Ahmed AbdultaofikVentspils
ForwardNGA Stanley IbeDaugava Daugavpils
ManagerMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils

Awards

LFF awards 2012CategoryWinnerClub
Best goalkeeperLAT Germans MāliņšSkonto Riga
Best defenderLAT Vitālijs MaksimenkoSkonto Riga
Best midfielderLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas Metalurgs
Best forwardGEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava Daugavpils
Top scorerGEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava Daugavpils
Best U-21 playerLAT Valērijs ŠabalaSkonto Riga
Best playerLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas Metalurgs
Best managerMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils
Fair play awardClubDaugava Daugavpils
Best match organisationClubMetta/LU

References

References

  1. "2012.gada LATVIJAS FUTBOLA VIRSLĪGAS, SPĒĻU KALENDĀRS". [[Latvian Football Federation]].
  2. (2012-05-01). "Daugavpils Daugava atlaiž galveno treneri Sabitovu". Diena.lv.
  3. (2012-05-02). "Osipovs atlaists no "Liepājas metalurgs" futbola komandas galvenā trenera amata". Kasjauns.lv.
  4. (2012-05-17). "FK "Ventspils" atlaiž galveno treneri Podpaliju". TVNET.
  5. "Sportacentrs TV – Sportacentrs.com". sportacentrs.com.
  6. "Pirmo reizi vēsturē pārdotas Latvijas virslīgas futbola čempionāta interneta translāciju tiesības | Kasjauns.lv". kasjauns.lv.
  7. "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgā plāno ieviest kvalitatīvu statistikas un analīzes sistēmu".
  8. "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgai savs analītiskais raidījums".
  9. Edmunds Novickis. (2012-05-07). "Virslīgas marta/aprīļa labākais spēlētājs Saito, treneris - Pahars". Sportacentrs.com.
  10. Jānis Celmiņš. (2012-06-05). "Virslīgas labākais spēlētājs maijā – Gongadze; treneris – Blagonadeždins". Sportacentrs.com.
  11. Andris Liepa. (2012-07-10). "Labākie jūnijā - Šabala un Pahars". Sportacentrs.com.
  12. Jānis Celmiņš. (2012-08-07). "Jūlijā labākie Daugavpils "Daugavas" pārstāvji Jašins un Tabanovs". Sportacentrs.com.
  13. Andrejs Siliņš. (2012-09-10). "Virslīgas labākais augustā - Leliūga". Sportacentrs.com.
  14. Andris Liepa. (2012-10-04). "Labākie septembrī - Karlsons un Riherts". Sportacentrs.com.
  15. Andris Liepa. (2012-11-07). "Oktobra/novembra labākais spēlētājs Kamešs, treneris – Tabanovs". Sportacentrs.com.
  16. Andris Liepa. (2012-11-07). "Oktobra/novembra labākais spēlētājs Kamešs, treneris – Tabanovs". Sportacentrs.com.
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