2012 Latvian Higher League

Latvian football league season for the highest division Latvian Higher League 2012 FC Daugava FB Gulbene Champions League FC Daugava Europa League Skonto Riga FK Ventspils SK Liepājas Metalurgs Baltic League 180 494 Mamuka Ghonghadze (18) Jūrmala 6-1 Daugava DaugavpilsSkonto Rīga 5-0 Metta/LUVentspils 5-0 Daugava Rīga Metta/LU 1-6 VentspilsGulbene 2005 0-5 VentspilsMetta/LU 0-5 Daugava Daugavpils Jelgava 3-4 Daugava RīgaMetta/LU 1-6 VentspilsJūrmala 6-1 Daugava DaugavpilsDaugava Rīga 2-5 SpartaksSpartaks 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 2012.2012.gada LATVIJAS FUTBOLA VIRSLĪGAS, SPĒĻU KALENDĀRS http://www.lff.lv/lv/virsliga/fixtures/2012/ Latvian Football Federation 28 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120220035344/http://www.lff.lv/lv/virsliga/fixtures/2012/ 2012-02-20 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 Latvia right 400 Location of teams in the 2012 Latvian Higher League Latvia 57.416667 21.533333 Ventspils Latvia 57.1725 26.761111 Gulbene Latvia 56.966667 24.133333 Daugava RigaFS METTASkonto Latvia 56.516667 21 Metalurgs Latvia 56.966667 23.75 JūrmalaSpartaks left Latvia 56.58 23.716667 Jelgava bottom Latvia 55.883333 26.533333 Daugava left 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 Capacityborder|20px FC Daugava Daugavpils Daugava Stadium 4,100border|20px FK Daugava Rīga Riga Daugava Stadium 5,000border|20px FB Gulbene Gulbene Gulbenes Sporta Centrs 1,500border|20px FK Jelgava Jelgava Zemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs 2,200border|20px FC Jūrmala Jūrmala Slokas Stadium 5,000border|20px SK Liepājas Metalurgs Liepāja Daugava Stadium 5,083border|20px FS Metta/LU Riga Rīgas 49. vidusskola Stadium 250border|20px Skonto FC Riga Skonto Stadium 10,000border|20px FK Spartaks Jūrmala Jūrmala Slokas Stadium 5,000border|20px 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. Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorFC Daugava MDA Ivan Tabanov LAT Jurijs Sokolovs Erreà —FK Daugava Rīga LAT Jurijs Popkovs LAT Vadims Gospodars Adidas —FB Gulbene LAT Mihails Koņevs LAT Alberts Nikoļskis Erreà PiebalgaFK Jelgava LAT Dainis Kazakevičs LAT Valērijs Redjko Macron LDz CargoFC Jūrmala LAT Vladimirs Pačko LAT Maksims Daņilovs Givova —SK Liepājas Metalurgs LAT Jānis Intenbergs LTU Tomas Tamošauskas Adidas —FS Metta/LU LAT Andris Riherts LAT Romāns Rožkovskis Nike SMS Credit.lvSkonto FC LAT Marians Pahars LAT Germans Māliņš Kappa —FK Spartaks Jūrmala LTU Arminas Narbekovas LAT Nauris Bulvītis Masita —FK Ventspils LAT Jurģis Pučinskis LAT Vitālijs Smirnovs Adidas VK Tranzīts Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointmentDaugava DaugavpilsRussia Leonid NazarenkoSacked2011-12-22pre-seasonRussia Ravil Sabitov2011-12-22Spartaks JūrmalaLatvia Artūrs ŠketovsSacked2012-02-02pre-seasonLatvia Oļegs Blagonadeždins2012-02-02Daugava DaugavpilsRussia Ravil SabitovSacked2012-04-29http://www.diena.lv/sports/futbols/daugavpils-daugava-atlaiz-galveno-treneri-sabitovu-13944684 Daugavpils Daugava atlaiž galveno treneri Sabitovu 2012-05-01 Diena.lv5thMoldova Ivan Tabanov2012-05-05Liepājas MetalurgsLatvia Vladimirs OsipovsSacked2012-05-01http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/zinas/79932/osipovs-atlaists-no-liepajas-metalurgs-futbola-komandas-galvena-trenera-amata Osipovs atlaists no "Liepājas metalurgs" futbola komandas galvenā trenera amata 2012-05-02 Kasjauns.lv https://web.archive.org/web/20120514085658/http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/zinas/79932/osipovs-atlaists-no-liepajas-metalurgs-futbola-komandas-galvena-trenera-amata 2012-05-146thLatvia Jānis Intenbergs2012-05-24FK VentspilsUkraine Sergey PodpalySacked2012-05-18http://www.tvnet.lv/sports/futbols/422037-fk_ventspils_atlaiz_galveno_treneri_podpaliju FK "Ventspils" atlaiž galveno treneri Podpaliju 2012-05-17 TVNET https://web.archive.org/web/20120520134614/http://www.tvnet.lv/sports/futbols/422037-fk_ventspils_atlaiz_galveno_treneri_podpaliju 2012-05-204thLatvia Jurģis Pučinskis2012-05-18Spartaks 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.http://sportacentrs.com/sportacentrs_tv/ Sportacentrs TV – Sportacentrs.com sportacentrs.com 1 December 2015 In June 2012 broadcasting rights were also bought by the English company Bet365.http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/zinas/83562/pirmo-reizi-vesture-pardotas-latvijas-virsligas-futbola-cempionata-interneta-translaciju-tiesibas Pirmo reizi vēsturē pārdotas Latvijas virslīgas futbola čempionāta interneta translāciju tiesības | Kasjauns.lv kasjauns.lv 1 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151208045412/http://www.kasjauns.lv/lv/zinas/83562/pirmo-reizi-vesture-pardotas-latvijas-virsligas-futbola-cempionata-interneta-translaciju-tiesibas 2015-12-08 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.http://futbolavirsliga.lv/index.php/jaunumi/780-virsliga-plano-ieviest-kvalitativu-statistikas-un-analizes-sistemu Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgā plāno ieviest kvalitatīvu statistikas un analīzes sistēmu 2012-09-22 https://archive.today/20130219030923/http://futbolavirsliga.lv/index.php/jaunumi/780-virsliga-plano-ieviest-kvalitativu-statistikas-un-analizes-sistemu 2013-02-19 dead 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.http://futbolavirsliga.lv/index.php/jaunumi/1061-virsligai-savs-apskata-raidijums Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgai savs analītiskais raidījums 2012-11-11 https://archive.today/20130218233647/http://futbolavirsliga.lv/index.php/jaunumi/1061-virsligai-savs-apskata-raidijums 2013-02-18 dead League table main WDL QR DGD Daugava Daugavpils SKO Skonto VEN Ventspils LIE Liepājas Metalurgs SPJ Spartaks Jūrmala FCJ Jūrmala JEL Jelgava MLU METTA/LU DGR Daugava Rīga GUL FB Gulbene 23 9 4 64 25 C 21 11 4 58 22 23 5 8 63 22 21 7 8 60 33 13 10 13 61 56 10 9 17 47 49 7 10 19 32 56 7 8 21 39 82 5 12 19 42 79 O 5 9 22 28 70 R green1 Qualification for Champions League second qualifying round CL2 blue1 Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round EL1 EL1 blue1 Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round Winners of the 2012–13 Latvian Football Cup. EL1b red2 Qualification for relegation play-offs RP red1 Relegation to Latvian First League R 1st points; 2nd head-to-head points; 3rd head-to-head goal difference; 4th overall wins; 5th goal difference; 6th goals scored complete LFF:Virslīga 2012 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. 14 November 2012 18:00 FK Daugava Rīga 1–0 Report BFC Daugava Broders 54 Daugava Stadium, Riga Aleksandrs Golubevs 18 November 2012 14:00 BFC Daugava 1–3 Report FK Daugava Rīga Ostrovskis 68 6 Gospodarjs21 Kapustas70 Kārkliņš Daugava Stadium, Daugavpils Andris Treimanis Results main First half of season FBR grey DGD GUL JEL FCJ DGR LIE MLU SKO SPJ VEN FC Daugava Daugavpils 3–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 0–0 2–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 FB Gulbene 0–2 1–2 2–0 0–0 1–1 5–1 0–1 0–3 0–5 Jelgava 1–2 0–1 0–2 3–4 0–2 1–4 1–2 1–3 0–2 FC Jūrmala 6–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 0–2 0–0 3–3 0–1 1–2 FK Daugava Rīga 0–4 2–2 1–0 1–1 1–3 1–0 1–1 1–2 1–4 SK Liepājas Metalurgs 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 3–2 0–1 1–2 0–0 METTA/LU 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–2 0–3 4–1 1–2 2–1 1–6 Skonto FC 3–0 4–1 2–3 1–0 1–0 0–1 5–0 1–0 1–0 Spartaks Jūrmala 2–2 3–1 2–0 0–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–0 Ventspils 1–2 3–0 0–1 1–1 2–0 0–3 1–0 0–0 3–2 complete Latvian Higher League main Second half of season FBR grey DGD GUL JEL FCJ DGR LIE MLU SKO SPJ VEN FC Daugava Daugavpils 1–0 0–0 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 3–2 0–0 FB Gulbene 1–3 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–3 0–3 0–4 0–1 1–2 Jelgava 0–2 0–0 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 0–1 FC Jūrmala 2–4 4–0 3–1 2–3 0–2 3–0 0–0 0–3 0–1 Daugava Rīga 0–3 1–1 1–2 1–2 3–3 1–1 1–3 2–5 0–4 SK Liepājas Metalurgs 1–3 3–1 2–0 3–2 4–0 4–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 METTA/LU 0–5 1–1 1–3 0–3 4–3 1–0 1–2 3–3 0–2 Skonto FC 0–0 3–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 3–1 5–0 0–0 1–0 Spartaks Jūrmala 0–3 2–2 1–1 4–2 2–2 0–3 3–4 0–1 0–3 Ventspils 1–0 4–0 0–0 2–1 5–0 1–0 4–0 1–0 2–0 Latvian Higher League complete Season statistics Top scorers 7 November 2012 RankPlayerClubGoals1Georgia Mamuka GhonghadzeFC Daugava182JPN Yōsuke SaitoFB Gulbene/FK Ventspils153COL David CortésFK Spartaks Jūrmala12LAT Daniils TurkovsFK Ventspils5LAT Antons JemeļinsFK Spartaks Jūrmala11LTU Tadas LabukasSkonto FCLAT Valērijs ŠabalaSkonto FC7Nigeria Stanley IbeFC Daugava10LAT Valērijs AfanasjevsSK Liepājas MetalurgsLAT Vladimirs KamešsSK Liepājas MetalurgsLatvia Mārtiņš MilašēvičsFS Metta/LUGhana Patrick TwumasiFK Spartaks JūrmalaLatvia Vitālijs ZiļsFK Daugava Rīga Player of the Month MonthPlayerClubMarch/Aprilhttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/07052012-virsligas_marta_aprila_labakais_speletajs Virslīgas marta/aprīļa labākais spēlētājs Saito, treneris - Pahars Edmunds Novickis 2012-05-07 Sportacentrs.comJPN Yōsuke SaitoGulbeneMayhttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/05062012-virsligas_labakais_speletajs_maija_gongad Virslīgas labākais spēlētājs maijā – Gongadze; treneris – Blagonadeždins Jānis Celmiņš 2012-06-05 Sportacentrs.comGEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava DaugavpilsJunehttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/10072012-labakie_junija_sabala_un_pahars Labākie jūnijā - Šabala un Pahars Andris Liepa 2012-07-10 Sportacentrs.comLVA Valērijs ŠabalaSkonto RigaJulyhttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/07082012-julija_labakie_daugavpils_daugavas_parsta Jūlijā labākie Daugavpils "Daugavas" pārstāvji Jašins un Tabanovs Jānis Celmiņš 2012-08-07 Sportacentrs.comRUS Sergei YashinDaugava DaugavpilsAugusthttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/10092012-virsligas_labakais_augusta_leliuga Virslīgas labākais augustā - Leliūga Andrejs Siliņš 2012-09-10 Sportacentrs.com dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121021071606/http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/10092012-virsligas_labakais_augusta_leliuga 2012-10-21 LTU Rytis LeliūgaLiepājas MetalurgsSeptemberhttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/04102012-labakie_septembri_karlsons_un_riherts Labākie septembrī - Karlsons un Riherts Andris Liepa 2012-10-04 Sportacentrs.comLAT Ģirts KarlsonsLiepājas MetalurgsOctober/Novemberhttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/07112012-oktobra_novembra_labakais_speletajs_kames Oktobra/novembra labākais spēlētājs Kamešs, treneris – Tabanovs Andris Liepa 2012-11-07 Sportacentrs.comLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas Metalurgs Manager of the Month MonthManagerClubMarch/AprilLAT Marians PaharsSkonto RigaMayLAT Oļegs BlagonadeždinsSpartaks JūrmalaJuneLAT Marians PaharsSkonto RigaJulyMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava DaugavpilsAugustLAT Jurģis PučinsksVentspilsSeptemberLAT Andris RihertsMetta/LUOctober/Novemberhttp://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/07112012-oktobra_novembra_labakais_speletajs_kames Oktobra/novembra labākais spēlētājs Kamešs, treneris – Tabanovs Andris Liepa 2012-11-07 Sportacentrs.comMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils Team of the Tournament LFF version PositionPlayerClubGoalkeeperLAT Germans MāliņšSkonto RigaDefenderRUS Dmitri PolovinchukDaugava DaugavpilsDefenderLVA Vitālijs MaksimenkoSkonto RigaDefenderLAT Igors SavčenkovsSkonto RigaDefenderLAT Nauris BulvītisSpartaks JūrmalaMidfielderNGA Daniel OlaDaugava DaugavpilsMidfielderLAT Aleksandrs FertovsSkonto RigaMidfielderTKM Ruslan MingazovSkonto RigaForwardLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas MetalurgsForwardJPN Yosuke SaitoVentspilsForwardGEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava DaugavpilsManagerMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils Sportacentrs.com version PositionPlayerClubGoalkeeperLAT Maksims UvarenkoVentspilsDefenderRUS Dmitri PolovinchukDaugava DaugavpilsDefenderLVA Vitālijs MaksimenkoSkonto RigaDefenderLAT Vitālijs SmirnovsVentspilsDefenderLAT Jurijs SokolovsDaugava DaugavpilsMidfielderNGA Daniel OlaDaugava DaugavpilsMidfielderLAT Igors TarasovsVentspilsMidfielderLAT Mihails ZiziļevsDaugava DaugavpilsForwardLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas MetalurgsForwardNGA Ahmed AbdultaofikVentspilsForwardNGA Stanley IbeDaugava DaugavpilsManagerMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava Daugavpils Awards LFF awards 2012CategoryWinnerClubBest goalkeeperLAT Germans MāliņšSkonto RigaBest defenderLAT Vitālijs MaksimenkoSkonto RigaBest midfielderLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas MetalurgsBest forwardGEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava DaugavpilsTop scorerGEO Mamuka GhonghadzeDaugava DaugavpilsBest U-21 playerLAT Valērijs ŠabalaSkonto RigaBest playerLAT Vladimirs KamešsLiepājas MetalurgsBest managerMDA Ivan TabanovDaugava DaugavpilsFair play awardClubDaugava DaugavpilsBest match organisationClubMetta/LU References External links Latvian Football Federation lv Category:Latvian Higher League seasons 1 Latvia