2012 Latvian Higher League

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.

Latvian Higher League
Season2012
ChampionsFC Daugava
RelegatedFB Gulbene
Champions LeagueFC Daugava
Europa LeagueSkonto Riga
FK Ventspils
SK Liepājas Metalurgs
Matches played180
Goals scored494 (2.74 per match)
Top goalscorerMamuka 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
← 2011
2013 →

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
Location of teams in the 2012 Latvian Higher League

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
FC Daugava Daugavpils Daugava Stadium 4,100
FK Daugava Rīga Riga Daugava Stadium 5,000
FB Gulbene Gulbene Gulbenes Sporta Centrs 1,500
FK Jelgava Jelgava Zemgales Olimpiskais Sporta Centrs 2,200
FC Jūrmala Jūrmala Slokas Stadium 5,000
SK Liepājas Metalurgs Liepāja Daugava Stadium 5,083
FS Metta/LU Riga Rīgas 49. vidusskola Stadium 250
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

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 Moldova Ivan Tabanov Latvia Jurijs Sokolovs Erreà —
FK Daugava Rīga Latvia Jurijs Popkovs Latvia Vadims Gospodars Adidas —
FB Gulbene Latvia Mihails Koņevs Latvia Alberts Nikoļskis Erreà Piebalga
FK Jelgava Latvia Dainis Kazakevičs Latvia Valērijs Redjko Macron LDz Cargo
FC Jūrmala Latvia Vladimirs Pačko Latvia Maksims Daņilovs Givova —
SK Liepājas Metalurgs Latvia Jānis Intenbergs Lithuania Tomas Tamošauskas Adidas —
FS Metta/LU Latvia Andris Riherts Latvia Romāns Rožkovskis Nike SMS Credit.lv
Skonto FC Latvia Marians Pahars Latvia Germans Māliņš Kappa —
FK Spartaks Jūrmala Lithuania Arminas Narbekovas Latvia Nauris Bulvītis Masita —
FK Ventspils Latvia Jurģis Pučinskis Latvia Vitālijs Smirnovs Adidas VK Tranzīts

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Daugava Daugavpils Russia Leonid Nazarenko Sacked 2011-12-22 pre-season Russia Ravil Sabitov 2011-12-22
Spartaks Jūrmala Latvia Artūrs Šketovs Sacked 2012-02-02 pre-season Latvia Oļegs Blagonadeždins 2012-02-02
Daugava Daugavpils Russia Ravil Sabitov Sacked 2012-04-29[2] 5th Moldova Ivan Tabanov 2012-05-05
Liepājas Metalurgs Latvia Vladimirs Osipovs Sacked 2012-05-01[3] 6th Latvia Jānis Intenbergs 2012-05-24
FK Ventspils Ukraine Sergey Podpaly Sacked 2012-05-18[4] 4th Latvia Jurģis Pučinskis 2012-05-18
Spartaks Jūrmala Latvia Oļegs Blagonadeždins Sacked 2012-07-20 4th Lithuania Arminas Narbekovas 2012-07-23

Broadcasting

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
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[lower-alpha 1]
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
Source: LFF:Virslīga 2012
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:
  1. Winners of the 2012–13 Latvian Football Cup.

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.

FK Daugava Rīga1–0BFC Daugava
Broders 54' Report
Referee: Aleksandrs Golubevs
BFC Daugava1–3FK Daugava Rīga
Ostrovskis 68' Report 6' Gospodarjs
21' Kapustas
70' Kārkliņš

Results

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of 7 November 2012
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Georgia (country) Mamuka Ghonghadze FC Daugava 18
2 Japan Yōsuke Saito FB Gulbene/FK Ventspils 15
3 Colombia David Cortés FK Spartaks Jūrmala 12
Latvia Daniils Turkovs FK Ventspils
5 Latvia Antons Jemeļins FK Spartaks Jūrmala 11
Lithuania Tadas Labukas Skonto FC
Latvia Valērijs Šabala Skonto FC
7 Nigeria Stanley Ibe FC Daugava 10
Latvia Valērijs Afanasjevs SK Liepājas Metalurgs
Latvia Vladimirs Kamešs SK Liepājas Metalurgs
Latvia Mārtiņš Milašēvičs FS Metta/LU
Ghana Patrick Twumasi FK Spartaks Jūrmala
Latvia Vitālijs Ziļs FK Daugava Rīga

Player of the Month
Month Player Club
March/April[9] Japan Yōsuke Saito Gulbene
May[10] Georgia (country) Mamuka Ghonghadze Daugava Daugavpils
June[11] Latvia Valērijs Šabala Skonto Riga
July[12] Russia Sergei Yashin Daugava Daugavpils
August[13] Lithuania Rytis Leliūga Liepājas Metalurgs
September[14] Latvia Ģirts Karlsons Liepājas Metalurgs
October/November[15] Latvia Vladimirs Kamešs Liepājas Metalurgs

Manager of the Month
Month Manager Club
March/April[9] Latvia Marians Pahars Skonto Riga
May[10] Latvia Oļegs Blagonadeždins Spartaks Jūrmala
June[11] Latvia Marians Pahars Skonto Riga
July[12] Moldova Ivan Tabanov Daugava Daugavpils
August[13] Latvia Jurģis Pučinsks Ventspils
September[14] Latvia Andris Riherts Metta/LU
October/November[16] Moldova Ivan Tabanov Daugava Daugavpils

Team of the Tournament

LFF version
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Latvia Germans Māliņš Skonto Riga
Defender Russia Dmitri Polovinchuk Daugava Daugavpils
Defender Latvia Vitālijs Maksimenko Skonto Riga
Defender Latvia Igors Savčenkovs Skonto Riga
Defender Latvia Nauris Bulvītis Spartaks Jūrmala
Midfielder Nigeria Daniel Ola Daugava Daugavpils
Midfielder Latvia Aleksandrs Fertovs Skonto Riga
Midfielder Turkmenistan Ruslan Mingazov Skonto Riga
Forward Latvia Vladimirs Kamešs Liepājas Metalurgs
Forward Japan Yosuke Saito Ventspils
Forward Georgia (country) Mamuka Ghonghadze Daugava Daugavpils
Manager Moldova Ivan Tabanov Daugava Daugavpils

Sportacentrs.com version
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Latvia Maksims Uvarenko Ventspils
Defender Russia Dmitri Polovinchuk Daugava Daugavpils
Defender Latvia Vitālijs Maksimenko Skonto Riga
Defender Latvia Vitālijs Smirnovs Ventspils
Defender Latvia Jurijs Sokolovs Daugava Daugavpils
Midfielder Nigeria Daniel Ola Daugava Daugavpils
Midfielder Latvia Igors Tarasovs Ventspils
Midfielder Latvia Mihails Ziziļevs Daugava Daugavpils
Forward Latvia Vladimirs Kamešs Liepājas Metalurgs
Forward Nigeria Ahmed Abdultaofik Ventspils
Forward Nigeria Stanley Ibe Daugava Daugavpils
Manager Moldova Ivan Tabanov Daugava Daugavpils

Awards
LFF awards 2012
Category Winner Club
Best goalkeeper Latvia Germans Māliņš Skonto Riga
Best defender Latvia Vitālijs Maksimenko Skonto Riga
Best midfielder Latvia Vladimirs Kamešs Liepājas Metalurgs
Best forward Georgia (country) Mamuka Ghonghadze Daugava Daugavpils
Top scorer Georgia (country) Mamuka Ghonghadze Daugava Daugavpils
Best U-21 player Latvia Valērijs Šabala Skonto Riga
Best player Latvia Vladimirs Kamešs Liepājas Metalurgs
Best manager Moldova Ivan Tabanov Daugava Daugavpils
Fair play award Club Daugava Daugavpils
Best match organisation Club Metta/LU

References
  1. "2012.gada LATVIJAS FUTBOLA VIRSLĪGAS, SPĒĻU KALENDĀRS". Latvian Football Federation. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  2. "Daugavpils Daugava atlaiž galveno treneri Sabitovu". Diena.lv. 2012-05-01.
  3. "Osipovs atlaists no "Liepājas metalurgs" futbola komandas galvenā trenera amata". Kasjauns.lv. 2012-05-02.
  4. "FK "Ventspils" atlaiž galveno treneri Podpaliju". TVNET. 2012-05-17.
  5. "Sportacentrs TV – Sportacentrs.com". sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  6. "Pirmo reizi vēsturē pārdotas Latvijas virslīgas futbola čempionāta interneta translāciju tiesības | Kasjauns.lv". kasjauns.lv. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  7. "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgā plāno ieviest kvalitatīvu statistikas un analīzes sistēmu". Archived from the original on 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2012-09-22.
  8. "Futbola Virslīga - Virslīgai savs analītiskais raidījums". Archived from the original on 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  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. Archived from the original on 2012-10-21.
  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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