Alberts Šeibelis
Encyclopedia
Alberts Šeibelis was a Latvia
n footballer
, one of the most popular Latvian footballers in the era before World War II
. In 54 matches for Latvia he scored 14 goals
. In 1922 he joined the newly-founded Rīgas FK
which later became the dominant Latvian football club of the 1920s-30s. In RFK Šeibelis for a long time had to play with the reserves squad, however in 1925 he made his debut with the Latvia national football team
which was looking to include more young players. In his first years Šeibelis more played as a forward but later he became a central midfielder. He organized both the defense and attack, and also scored goals. He was considered one of the best footballers of the Baltic States
for several years. In 1928 Šeibelis was on the Latvian team which won the first Baltic Cup, in the decisive match against Estonia
he organized the winning goal and was injured by a frustrated Estonian forward who couldn't go past Šeibelis. In 1936 when Latvia won another Baltic Cup scored a winning goal against Lithuania in the last minute.
In his club career in 1931 Šeibelis left Rīgas FK
and joined V.Ķuzes FK and Rīgas Vilki (he played with both clubs at the same time for several seasons). In 1938 Šeibelis with Rīgas Vilki won the Latvian Cup - a huge success for the club which wasn't among the elite of Latvian football. In 1939 he played his last international match for Latvia as it lost 0:3 to Bulgaria
.
After the Second World war Šeibelis lived in the USA, coached a football club in Minneapolis.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, one of the most popular Latvian footballers in the era before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 54 matches for Latvia he scored 14 goals
Biography
Šeibelis was born in the provincial town SabileSabile
Sabile is a town in Talsi municipality, Latvia.Sabile was first mentioned in chronicles in 1253. From the 14th century to the 16th century, it was a site of a castle of the Livonian Order and a village near the castle. Sabilė became a town in 1917....
. In 1922 he joined the newly-founded Rīgas FK
Rigas FK
Riga FK was a Latvian football club which was founded December 14, 1923. It was the strongest and most popular Latvian football club in 1920s and 1930s, it was also the base team for Latvia national football team in its early years...
which later became the dominant Latvian football club of the 1920s-30s. In RFK Šeibelis for a long time had to play with the reserves squad, however in 1925 he made his debut with the Latvia national football team
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
which was looking to include more young players. In his first years Šeibelis more played as a forward but later he became a central midfielder. He organized both the defense and attack, and also scored goals. He was considered one of the best footballers of the Baltic States
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
for several years. In 1928 Šeibelis was on the Latvian team which won the first Baltic Cup, in the decisive match against Estonia
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
he organized the winning goal and was injured by a frustrated Estonian forward who couldn't go past Šeibelis. In 1936 when Latvia won another Baltic Cup scored a winning goal against Lithuania in the last minute.
In his club career in 1931 Šeibelis left Rīgas FK
Rigas FK
Riga FK was a Latvian football club which was founded December 14, 1923. It was the strongest and most popular Latvian football club in 1920s and 1930s, it was also the base team for Latvia national football team in its early years...
and joined V.Ķuzes FK and Rīgas Vilki (he played with both clubs at the same time for several seasons). In 1938 Šeibelis with Rīgas Vilki won the Latvian Cup - a huge success for the club which wasn't among the elite of Latvian football. In 1939 he played his last international match for Latvia as it lost 0:3 to Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
.
After the Second World war Šeibelis lived in the USA, coached a football club in Minneapolis.