Surf Wiki
Save to docs
sports

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

FK Ventspils

Association football club in Latvia

Association football club in Latvia

FieldValue
clubnameVentspils
imageFK Ventspils logo.svg
image_size180px
fullnameFutbola klubs Ventspils
nicknameYellow-Blues
founded
dissolved
groundVentspils Olimpiskais Stadions
capacity3,200
managerIgor Kichigin
leagueLatvian First League
pattern_la1_mezokovesd1617h
pattern_b1_mezokovesd1617h
pattern_ra1_mezokovesd1617h
leftarm1FFD700
body1FFEF00
rightarm1FFD700
shorts1FFEF00
socks1FFEF00
pattern_la2_adidasregista20wrb
pattern_b2_adidasregista20wrb
pattern_ra2_adidasregista20wrb
pattern_sh2_cruzeiro20h
leftarm2FFFFFF
body2FFFFFF
rightarm2FFFFFF
shorts2shorts2=FFFFFF
socks2FFFFFF
website

FK Ventspils was a Latvian professional football club based at Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions in Ventspils. It was one of the most prominent football clubs in the country. The club played in the Latvian Virslīga since 1997.

It folded in July 2021 and was officially liquidated on 19 January 2024. A new phoenix club - JFK Ventspils was created on the basis of the former FK Ventspils youth academy, returned to Latvian football and competes in the Latvian First League as of 2023.

In total, FK Ventspils has won six league titles and seven Latvian Cups. They became Latvian Higher League champions in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2014. In 2009 FK Ventspils became the first Latvian club to participate in the group stages of a UEFA competition after beating BATE Borisov from Belarus.

History

FK Ventspils was founded in 1997 with the merger of two former Ventspils clubs – FK Venta and FK Nafta. Its predecessor, Venta, was one of the leading clubs in the Latvian league in the 1960s.

FK Venta

The next notable success for “Venta” was in 1967, when they won the Latvian Cup. By that time they had quite a fighting fit line-up, and 1969 already was their golden year when Venta became champions. During the tournament they gained 43 points; 20 matches won, 3 matches ended in a draw and only 3 matches lost. Additionally, they lost only in the away matches. They scored 45 goals and conceded 16. At that time Venta's leader was a player manager, who is well known not only to the admirers of Ventspils, but the whole of Latvian football, Vladimir Chikinov.

This was the golden line-up: Leonid Virko, Konstantin Zhurkevich, Aleksandr Busarov, Valery Yashenko, Aleksandr Tronev, Ariy Shmerling, Vladimir Samohvalov, Aleksandr Novash, Nikolay Chaevky, Nikolay Pozdnyakov, Vladimir Chikinov, Viktor Yurinov, Viktor Litvinenko, Aleksandr Rakicky, Valentin Ipolitov, Vladimir Kutuzov, Valentin Vetrenko, Genady Hrustalov.

Of course, the victories did not come easy. There was a huge effort put into both – the matches and training. However, at that time they had quite a modest material and technical basis. They trained in the sport hall of Ventspils port, had training camps in Piltene and went to Moldova several times. They had close contacts with a children's sport school from which talented youth players often came into the team. Whereas these days there are limits on foreign born players, at that time it was an obligation for the team to have two players younger than 18 years of age in the line-up. Thus, V. Kutuzov, V. Ivankovich, N. Dishlov and later Y. Romanenko, V. Fedotov and others appeared in the team.

In 1963 Ventspils gained a place and the rights to play in the Latvian championship (Virsliga). The next major achievement for "Venta" came in 1967, when it won the Latvian Cup. In 1969 "Venta" were champions of Latvia, in that season "Venta" got 43 points, 20 matches won, three drawn and three lost. In the 1970s the team lost its position, in the 1980s it lost its financial support and became defunct for some years. In 1994 Venta returned to 1. līga but after that season many players left the club as FK Nafta was formed. Until the merger Venta played in 1. liga.

FK Nafta

FK Nafta was formed in 1995. In the first season the club won its 2nd league division and earned a promotion to the 1st league. In its only season there the club finished higher than FK Venta. After the season the teams merged to form FK Ventspils.

FK Ventspils

The recent history of “Ventspils” began in 1997, the year of the team's foundation. In February 2007, the club that represents the town on the bank of the river Venta with a population of 45 thousand people, celebrated its 10th anniversary. In a relatively short period of time FK “Ventspils” has become one of the strongest clubs in Latvia. FK “Ventspils” has rapidly developed and gained a reputation of a serious Latvian club, winning various trophies.

In 2003 FK "Ventspils” won the Latvian Cup for the first time in the club's history, and in the next two consecutive years. Only the main trophy – golden medal of the Latvian championship – had yet to be attined. The team won silver and bronze medals of the Latvian championship several times, and, finally, in 2006 FK "Ventspils" became the champions of Latvia.

The Ukrainian specialist Roman Hryhorchuk led FK Ventspils to the main trophy. Prior to that, in 2003, FK Ventspils had won the Latvian Cup for the first time. Also, in 2004 and in 2005, FK Ventspils won the trophy, but only finished second and third in the Latvian championship. Before Hryhorchuk the team was managed by Russian coach Boris Sinicin, English coach Paul Anthony Ashworth, Lithuanian specialist Saulius Širmelis and the Latvian local Sergejs Semjonovs.

Despite being a relatively new club, FK Ventspils has also had a quite rich and interesting history in the Eurocups. In 1999 FK Ventspils had its debut in the Intertoto Cup and beat Norwegian team Vålerenga on aggregate. Later the club took part in the UEFA Cup, thus allowing fans to see matches against such famous European clubs as Stuttgart, Rosenborg, Brøndby and Newcastle United. The 0–0 draw in the away match against Newcastle United might have been called the greatest achievement of FK Ventspils until 2009. However, even more memorable were the matches against Brøndby in 2004, when FK Ventspils eliminated the Danish club from the UEFA Cup.

On 17 July 2007 FK Ventspils made its debut in the UEFA Champions League. The yellow-and-blue started their historical trip of the most prestigious club tournament in Europe in Wales, where they played against TNS. The author of the first FK Ventspils goal in the Champions League was forward Vits Rimkus. One week later, on 25 July, FK Ventspils achieved their first victory in the Champions league, beating TNS 2–1 at home. Goals were scored by defenders Jean-Paul Ndeki and Deniss Kačanovs. In the second qualifying round the Roman Hryhorchuk's team played against Red Bull Salzburg, led by the legendary Italian specialist Giovanni Trapattoni and lost. In 2008 FK Ventspils participated in the Champions league for the second time. The first opponents of the team were again the champions of Wales, Llanelli.

[[2009–10 UEFA Europa League group stage|UEFA Europa league Group stage 2009/10]]

In the 2009–10 season FK Ventspils became the first Latvian club to participate in the group stages of UEFA club competitions after beating BATE Borisov from Belarus in the last UEFA Europa League qualification round. FK Ventspils opponents in the group stages were Sporting CP from Portugal, Hertha BSC from Germany and Heerenveen from the Netherlands. Adding several experienced players to the squad, FK Ventspils managed two 1–1 draws away in the Olympiastadion in Berlin and Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. They also kept a 0–0 draw against Heerenveen at home. They then lost 1-0 at home to Hertha Berlin and 5-0 away to Heerenween. With three points in six matches, FK Ventspils finished last in Group D, failing to qualify for the UEFA Europa League group stages.

In 2010 FK Ventspils won the 2009–10 Baltic League. They finished second in the national championship, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League first qualification stage. The club was knocked out of the tournament in the third qualification stage by Red Star Belgrade. In 2011, they won the national championship, securing their fourth league title. In 2013 FK Ventspils won the league for the fifth time and lifted the Latvian Cup for the sixth time in the club's history. In the middle of 2013 the club participated in the UEFA Europa League qualification stages, reaching the third qualification stage. They knocked out the Welsh champions Airbus UK Broughton and Luxembourg National Division club Jeunesse Esch, but lost to the Israeli club Maccabi Haifa.

Disqualification

On 9 June 2021, UEFA banned FK Ventspils from participating in UEFA club competitions for the next seven years (i.e. up to and including the 2027–28 season) for violating UEFA regulations related to "fraud, bribery and/or corruption" and for "violation of the integrity of matches and competitions". Club officials Nikolajs Djakins and Adlan Shishkanov were banned from football for 4 years and for life, respectively. The charges were related to July 2018 Europa League qualifier against Bordeaux, Russian referee Sergey Lapochkin who was refereeing that game was banned from football activity for 10 years.

Dissolution

By 2021, financial problems had beset the club and in the middle of the 2021 Virslīga season the club pulled out of the league and was dissolved.

Team honours

Individual honours

YearPlayer/managerAward
2005Latvia Igors SļesarčuksVirslīga top scorer
2006Cameroon Jean-Paul NdekiVirslīga best defender
2006Cameroon Jean-Paul NdekiVirslīga best player
2006, 2007, 2008Latvia Andris VaņinsVirslīga best goalkeeper
2006, 2007, 2008Ukraine Roman HryhorchukVirslīga best manager
2007Latvia Vīts RimkusVirslīga best player
2007Cameroon Jean-Paul NdekiCIS Cup best player
2007, 2008Latvia Vīts RimkusVirslīga top scorer
2007, 2008Latvia Vīts RimkusVirslīga best forward
2008Latvia Andris VaņinsVirslīga best player
2008Latvia Andris VaņinsLatvian Footballer of the Year
2010Latvia Jurijs ŽigajevsVirslīga best player
2010, 2013Latvia Jurijs ŽigajevsVirslīga best midfielder
2011Latvia Oļegs LaizānsVirslīga best midfielder
2011Latvia Oļegs LaizānsVirslīga best player
2011Russia Sergei PodpalyVirslīga best manager
2013Latvia Jurijs ŽigajevsVirslīga best player
2013, 2014Latvia Jurģis PučinskisVirslīga best manager
2014Latvia Kaspars DubraVirslīga best defender

Participation in Latvian Championships

YearDivisionPosition
1997Virsliga4th
1998Virsliga3rd
1999Virsliga3rd
2000Virsliga2nd
2001Virsliga2nd
2002Virsliga2nd
2003Virsliga3rd
2004Virsliga3rd
2005Virsliga3rd
2006Virsliga1st
2007Virsliga1st
2008Virsliga1st
2009Virsliga2nd
2010Virsliga2nd
2011Virsliga1st
2012Virsliga3rd
2013Virsliga1st
2014Virsliga1st
2015Virsliga3rd
2016Virsliga3rd
2017Virsliga4th
2018Virsliga2nd
2019Virsliga3rd

Participation in Baltic League

YearPosition
2007–08Runners-up
2008–09Semi-finals
2009–10Winners
2010–11Runners-up

European record

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
1999UEFA Intertoto Cup1RNorway Vålerenga2–00–12–1
2RTurkey Kocaelispor1–10–21–3[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2000–01UEFA CupQRHungary Vasas2–11–3 (aet)3–4
2001–02UEFA CupQRFinland HJK Helsinki0–11–21–3
2002–03UEFA CupQRSwitzerland Lugano3–00–13–1
1RGermany Stuttgart1–41–42–8[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2003–04UEFA CupQRPoland Wisła Płock1–12–23–3 (a)
1RNorway Rosenborg1–40–61–10[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2004–05UEFA Cup1QRFaroe Islands B68 Toftir8–03–011–0
2QRDenmark Brøndby0–01–11–1 (a)[[File:Symbol keep vote.svg17px]]
1RPoland Amica Wronki1–10–11–2[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2005–06UEFA Cup1QRNorthern Ireland Linfield1–21–02–2 (a)
2006–07UEFA Cup1QRIceland Knattspyrnufélagið Víkingur2–12–04–1
2QREngland Newcastle United0–10–00–1[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2007–08UEFA Champions League1QRWales The New Saints2–12–34–4 (a)
2QRAustria Red Bull Salzburg0–30–40–7[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2008–09UEFA Champions League1QRWales Llanelli4–00–14–1
2QRNorway Brann2–10–12–2 (a)[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2009–10UEFA Champions League2QRLuxembourg F91 Dudelange3–03–16–1
3QRBelarus BATE Borisov1–01–22–2 (a)[[File:Symbol keep vote.svg17px]]
POSwitzerland Zürich0–31–21–5[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
UEFA Europa LeagueGroup DGermany Hertha BSC0–11–14th[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
Netherlands Heerenveen0–00–5
Portugal Sporting CP1–21–1
2010–11UEFA Europa League1QRRepublic of Macedonia Teteks0–01–31–3
2011–12UEFA Europa League2QRBelarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk3–21–04–2
3QRSerbia Red Star Belgrade1–20–71–9[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2012–13UEFA Champions League2QRNorway Molde1–10–31–4
2013–14UEFA Europa League1QRWales Airbus UK Broughton0–01–11–1 (a)
2QRLuxembourg Jeunesse Esch1–04–15–1[[File:Symbol keep vote.svg17px]]
3QRIsrael Maccabi Haifa0–00–30–3[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2014–15UEFA Champions League2QRSweden Malmö FF0–10–00–1
2015–16UEFA Champions League2QRFinland HJK Helsinki1–30–11–4
2016–17UEFA Europa League1QRFaroe Islands Víkingur Gøta2–02–04–0
2QRSCO Aberdeen0–10–30–4[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2017–18UEFA Europa League1QRIceland Valur0–00–10–1
2018–19UEFA Europa League1QRAlbania Luftëtari5−03–38–3
2QRFrance Bordeaux0–11–21–3[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2019–20UEFA Europa League1QRAlbania Teuta3–00–13–1
2QRMalta Gżira United4–02–26–2[[File:Symbol keep vote.svg17px]]
3QRPortugal Vitória de Guimarães0–30–60–9[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]
2020–21UEFA Europa League1QRMoldova Dinamo-Auto2–1
2QRNorway Rosenborg1–5[[File:Symbol delete vote.svg17px]]

Sponsors

Other sponsors

Current squad

; As to 30 July 2023

Notable former players

  • Past (and present) players who are the subjects of Wikipedia articles can be found here.

Managers

NamePeriod
Belarus Sergei BorovskyJan 1, 1997 – Jan 1, 1998
LIT Saulius Cekanavičius (caretaker)1998
RUS Boris Sinitsyn1999–00
LIT Saulius Cekanavičius (caretaker)2000
ENG Paul AshworthJanuary 1, 2001 – June 30, 2003
LIT Saulius Širmelis2003–04
LAT Sergejs Semjonovs2005
UKR Roman HryhorchukJuly 1, 2005 – Aug 11, 2009
ITA Nunzio ZavettieriAug 11, 2009 – Dec 31, 2010
RUS Sergei PodpalyJan 17, 2011 – May 17, 2012
LAT Jurģis PučinskisJuly 1, 2012–14th Sept, 2015
ENG Paul Ashworth2015–2017
MNE Dejan Vukićević2018–2019
LAT Igors Kļosovs2019
MDA Viorel Frunză2020–
MDA Ghenadie Anghel2004

References

References

  1. (19 January 2024). "Ēras oficiālas beigas – izbeigta futbola kluba 'Ventspils' darbība". Delfi.
  2. "Ventspils hold on to oust BATE". UEFA.
  3. (9 June 2021). "CEDB decisions on FK Ventspils". [[UEFA]].
  4. (9 June 2021). "CEDB decision on Russian match official". [[UEFA]].
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

fk-ventspils football-clubs-in-latvia sport-in-ventspils association-football-clubs-established-in-1997 association-football-clubs-disestablished-in-2024 1997-establishments-in-latvia 2024-disestablishments-in-latvia
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about FK Ventspils — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report