Latvian Higher League

Latvian Higher League
Country Latvia
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Number of teams 8
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Latvijas 1. līga
Domestic cup(s) Latvian Cup
Latvian Supercup
International cup(s) Champions League
Europa League
Current champions Spartaks Jūrmala
(2017)
Most championships Skonto (15)
Website www.futbolavirsliga.lv
www.lff.lv
2018 Latvian Higher League

Latvian Higher League or Virslīga, (sponsored name of SynotTip Higher League), is a professional football league and the top tier of association football in Latvia. Organised by the Latvian Football Federation, Higher League is contested by 8 clubs.

The League has changed sponsors for several times. From 2005 until 2011 it was known as LMT Virslīga. In 2012 the league was reorganised in partnership with the NGO as "Latvijas Futbola virslīga",[1] adopting the NGO's name. In March 2016, it was announced that the Virslīga would be sponsored by SynotTip on a three-year contract.[2]

League format

After the 2007 season the league increased from eight to ten sides.[3] In 2008 each side played the others four times.

At the end of the season, the lowest placed team are automatically relegated into Traffic 1. liga, and the winner of the Traffic 1. liga automatically takes their place. The second lowest placed team in Virslīga and the second team of 1. liga play two matches for a place in the Virslīga the following season. The winner of Virslīga, the champion of Latvia, plays in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. The second and third placed clubs play in the UEFA Europa League qualifying games.[4]

Clubs (2018)

Locations of the 2017 Latvian Higher League teams

Source:[5]

Club
Jelgava
Liepāja
Metta / LU
Riga
Rīgas FS
Spartaks Jūrmala
Valmiera
Ventspils

Titles by year

Source:[6]

Riga Football League

Latvian Championship 1922–1940 (independent)

Football Championship of Latvian SSR 1942–1990

Since independence in 1991

Most titles

This is a list of clubs, in order of most titles won in the independent era (1922-1940 and 1991 to date):[6]

Club No. of Titles Years won
Skonto Riga 15 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010
RFK Riga 8 1924, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1940
Olimpija Liepaja 7 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1939
Ventspils 6 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014
Liepajas Metalurgs 2 2005, 2009
Kaiserwald Riga 2 1922, 1923
JPFS/Spartaks Jurmala 2 2016, 2017
Liepaja 1 2015
Daugava Daugavpils 1 2012
ASK Riga 1 1932

References

  1. ↑ "About Virslīga". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013. (in Latvian)
  2. ↑ "Virslīga ar "SynotTip" noslēdz vērienīgāko līgumu līgas vēsturē" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Mike Dryomin (14 March 2008). "Latvia 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  4. ↑ Hartmanis, Martins (2007-12-01). "LMT Virslīga new season calendar published". Latvian Football Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  5. ↑ "Virsliga". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  6. 1 2 Almantas Lauzadis and Hans Schöggl (23 March 2017). "Latvia - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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