Latvian Higher League

Latvian Higher League or Virslīga is a professional football league and the top tier of association football in Latvia. Organised by the Latvian Football Federation, the Higher League is contested by 10 clubs. The full name of the league is Optibet Virslīga for sponsorship reasons since 2019.

Latvian Higher League
Founded1927
CountryLatvia
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLatvijas 1. līga
Domestic cup(s)Latvian Cup
Latvian Supercup
International cup(s)Champions League
Europa League
Current championsRiga FC
(2019)
Most championshipsSkonto (15)
Websitehttps://optibetvirsliga.lv
2020 Latvian Higher League

History and League format

The first all-national championship was organized in 1927. Between 1945 and 1991 the championship of Soviet Latvia was a feature of the country's sporting calendar. With Latvia regaining independence in August 1991, the newly established Latvian Football Federation (Latvijas Futbola Federācija – LFF) decided to reorganise its competitions within the Virslīga from 1992.[1] In 2008 The same year Latvia became a member of UEFA. After the 2007 season the league increased from eight to ten sides.[2] In 2008 each side played the others four times.

At the end of the season, the lowest placed team are automatically relegated into 1. liga, and the winner of the 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.[3]

A winter off-season league cup, the Virslīga Winter Cup, was played in January of each year from 2013 to 2017, which was replaced next year by the Virslīga Cup (Latvian: Virslīgas kausa izcīņa).[4]

From 2015 till 2018 there were eight participating clubs. This was increased to nine for the 2019 season and ten for the 2020 season.[5]

Sponsorships and name changes

The League has changed sponsors for several times. From 2005 until 2010 it was known as the LMT Virslīga. No sponsorships were established for the 2011 season. Starting from the 2012 season, the league was reorganised in partnership with an NGO as "Latvijas Futbola virslīga",[6] adopting the NGO's name in the 2012 season. From 2013 to 2015, the league was known as the SMScredit.lv Virslīga due to a contract with the online microfinance company SMScredit.[7] In March 2016, it was announced that the Virslīga would be sponsored by SynotTip Sports Bar on a three-year contract.[8] They were succeeded by betting firm "Optibet" on a two-year contract, beginning with the 2019 season.[9]

Clubs (2019)
Locations of the 2020 Latvian Higher League teams

Source:[10][11]

Club Position
in 2018		 First season in
Virslīga		 Seasons
in Virslīga		 First season of
current spell in
Virslīga		 Virslīga
titles		 Last Virslīga
title
Jelgava6th20101020100n/a
Liepāja4th20146201412015
Metta / LU7th2012820120n/a
Riga FC1st20164201612018
Rīgas FS3rd2016420160n/a
Spartaks Jūrmala5th20128201222017
Valmiera8th1997920180n/a
Ventspils2nd199723199762014
BFC Daugavpilsa1st2014420190n/a

a: Pirmā līga winner

Titles by year

Source:[12]

Riga Football League

Latvian Championship 1922–1940 (independent)

Football Championship of Latvian SSR 1942–1990
Main article: Football Championship of the Latvian SSR

Since independence in 1991

Notable managers and players

Most titles

This is a list of clubs, in order of most titles won in the independent era (1922-1940 and 1991 to date).[12] Teams in bold are part of 2020 Virsliga.

By club
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 Liepāja 7 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1939
Ventspils 6 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014
Liepājas Metalurgs 2 2005, 2009
Kaiserwald Riga 2 1922, 1923
JPFS/Spartaks Jūrmala 2 2016, 2017
Riga FC 2 2018, 2019
FK Liepāja 1 2015
Daugava Daugavpils 1 2012
ASK Riga 1 1932

By region
Region Championships Clubs
Riga 30 Skonto (15), RFK (8), Kaiserwald (2), Spartaks (2), Riga (2), ASK (1)
Kurzeme 16 Olimpija (7), Ventspils (6), Metalurgs (2), Liepaja (1)
Latgale 1 Daugava (1)

By city/town
City / Town Championships Clubs
Riga 28 Skonto (15), RFK (8), Kaiserwald (2), Riga (2), ASK (1)
Liepaja 10 Olimpija (7), Metalurgs (2), Liepaja (1)
Ventspils 6 Ventspils (6)
Jurmala 2 Spartaks (2)
Daugavpils 1 Daugava (1)

Rivalries

The most well-known rivalry is Kurzeme derby (Kurzemes derbijs) between Ventspils and Liepaja.[13] Two biggest clubs in Kurzeme region has been played 86 matches before 2019 season with record W31 D28 L27 (including Metalurgs) in favor of Liepaja.[14]

Since 2016 were established Riga derby (Rīgas derbijs) between Riga and Rīgas FS as two clubs were promoted at the same time. In 2019 match on Skonto Stadium between two sides set ten years attendance record.[15]

Virslīga clubs in international competitions

UEFA competitions

Ventspils is the first club who qualifies for the UEFA clubs competitions group stage in 2009.[16]

Skonto reached UEFA Champions League last qualifying stage for a few times but losing to such teams like FC Barcelona[17], Internazionale FC[18] and Chelsea FC.[19]

Commonwealth of Independent States Cup

  • Skonto

Runners-up (3): 2001, 2003, 2004.

Runners-up (1): 2007.

Baltic League

Champions (1): 2007.

Champions (1): 2010.

Runners-up (2): 2007, 2011.

  • Skonto

Champions (1): 2011.

Runners-up (1): 2008.

Individual records (since 1992)
  Still active players are highlighted

References
  1. "Latvia". UEFA. All rights reserved. 3 September 2018.
  2. Mike Dryomin (14 March 2008). "Latvia 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. Hartmanis, Martins (2007-12-01). "LMT Virslīga new season calendar published". Latvian Football Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  4. "Ziemas kauss futbolā vairs nenotiks, to aizstās Virslīgas kausa izcīņa". LA.lv (in Latvian). 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
  5. "Sacensību sistēmas modeļa apstiprināšana". lff.lv (in Latvian).
  6. "About Virslīga". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013. (in Latvian)
  7. "Latvijas futbola virslīgai nākamajā sezonā būs jauns ģenerālsponsors". Public Broadcasting of Latvia (in Latvian). 2018-10-17. Retrieved 2019-08-07.
  8. "Virslīga ar "SynotTip" noslēdz vērienīgāko līgumu līgas vēsturē" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  9. "Becomes main sponsor of Latvian football league". Enlabs AB. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  10. "Optibet Virslīga". Latvian Football Federation (in Latvian). Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  11. "Summary - Virsliga - Latvia - Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  12. Almantas Lauzadis and Hans Schöggl (23 March 2017). "Latvia - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  13. "Kurzeme derby".
  14. "Futbola virslīgā tiks aizvadīts Kurzemes derbijs" (in Latvian).
  15. "Rīgas derbijs labo Virslīgas desmitgades apmeklētības rekordu" (in Latvian).
  16. "Europa League group stage".
  17. "1997–98 UEFA Champions League".
  18. "1998–99 UEFA Champions League".
  19. "1999–2000 UEFA Champions League".
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