Baltic League
Encyclopedia
The Baltic League is a Baltic football club tournament, launched in 2007 inspired by the now defunct Scandinavia
n tournament Royal League
and by the Baltic Basketball League
. The top four club sides from Estonia
, Latvia
and Lithuania
take part in the competition. Winners and runners-up from each group advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Starting from 2009–10, the competition will be expanded to 16 teams, with five sides from every Baltic state taking part. One additional slot will be allocated to the sixth best team from the country of the previous winner.
A similar competition is the Baltic Champions Cup
which features the league champions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The first two tournaments were played from Spring to Summer with 12 entrants but this has now changed to a longer Winter to Summer tournament with four more clubs taking part.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n tournament Royal League
Royal League
The Royal League was an annual Scandinavian football tournament held three times between teams from the three Scandinavian monarchies , starting after the end of the regular domestic seasons of Norway and Sweden. Denmark, however, are in mid-season when the tournament starts...
and by the Baltic Basketball League
Baltic Basketball League
Baltic Basketball League is a Baltic states basketball league founded in 2004.Currently, the league is divided into two: the Elite division and the Challenge Cup division. The 10 strongest Baltic basketball clubs participate in the Elite division. The rest of the teams compete in the Challenge Cup...
. The top four club sides from Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Latvia
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...
and Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
take part in the competition. Winners and runners-up from each group advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.
Starting from 2009–10, the competition will be expanded to 16 teams, with five sides from every Baltic state taking part. One additional slot will be allocated to the sixth best team from the country of the previous winner.
A similar competition is the Baltic Champions Cup
Baltic Champions Cup
The Baltic Champions Cup is a Baltic football club tournament, launched in 2006 before going on hiatus until 2011. The Champions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania leagues take part in the competition which is played indoor. The competition is played over three consecutive days with each club playing...
which features the league champions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Format
The inaguaral tournament in 2007 finished as a two legged final. This format was abandoned for the second tournament and since all finals have been played as a single match at the home of one of the finalists. Since this format was introduced, the team hosting the match has yet to win despite the added home advantage.The first two tournaments were played from Spring to Summer with 12 entrants but this has now changed to a longer Winter to Summer tournament with four more clubs taking part.
Finals
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up | Venue(s) | Referee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 2010–11 Baltic League The 2010–11 Baltic League is a 16-team football tournament held in the Baltic states. Five top teams from each participating country – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – along with the winner of the 2009–10 season will play a 4 round and 2 legged play-off style knockout tournament... |
 SkontoSkonto FC Skonto FC is a Latvian football club, founded in 1991. The club plays at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Skonto won the Virsliga in the first 14 seasons of the league's existence , and often provides the core of the Latvia national football team... |
1 – 1 (a.e.t.) 5 – 4 (pen. Penalty shootout (football) A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game... ) |
Ventspils FK Ventspils FK Ventspils is a Latvian football club, based at Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions in Ventspils city and is one of the most popular football clubs in the country. FK Ventspils plays in the Latvian Virsliga. They are the current champions of the tournament.... |
Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions, more commonly called the Ventspils Stadions, is a multi-purpose stadium in Ventspils, Latvia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. Ventspils Stadions is the home stadium for FK Ventspils, and one of the most famous football stadia in the Latvia. The... , Ventspils Ventspils Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port... |
 Nerijus Dunauskas |
| 2009–10 | Ventspils FK Ventspils FK Ventspils is a Latvian football club, based at Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions in Ventspils city and is one of the most popular football clubs in the country. FK Ventspils plays in the Latvian Virsliga. They are the current champions of the tournament.... |
3 – 3 (a.e.t.) 5 – 3 (pen. Penalty shootout (football) A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game... ) |
Sūduva |
Sūduva Stadium Suduva stadium Arvi arena Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Marijampolė, Lithuania. The stadium was built using funds from the European Union and opened on July 6, 2008. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of FK Sūduva... , Marijampolė Marijampole Marijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700... |
 Sten Kaldma |
| 2008 | Kaunas FBK Kaunas Kauno futbolo beisbolo klubas is a Lithuanian football club from the city of Kaunas, that currently plays in the A Lyga, the top level of Lithuanian football.- History :... |
2 – 1 |
Skonto Skonto FC Skonto FC is a Latvian football club, founded in 1991. The club plays at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Skonto won the Virsliga in the first 14 seasons of the league's existence , and often provides the core of the Latvia national football team... |
Skonto Stadions Skonto stadions Skonto Stadium is a football stadium in Riga, Latvia. The stadium has 9,500 seats and was built in 2000. This is the biggest football stadium in Latvia.- Description :Skonto Stadium is located in the heart of Riga - Street E. Melngaiļa 1a, Riga, Latvia... , Riga Riga Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,... |
Hannes Kaasik |
| 2007 | Metalurgs FHK Liepajas Metalurgs FK Liepājas Metalurgs is a Latvian football club, based in the city of Liepāja and playing in the Virslīga. They play at the Daugava Stadium... |
8 – 2 (aggregate) 3 – 1, 5 - 1 |
Ventspils FK Ventspils FK Ventspils is a Latvian football club, based at Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions in Ventspils city and is one of the most popular football clubs in the country. FK Ventspils plays in the Latvian Virsliga. They are the current champions of the tournament.... |
Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions, more commonly called the Ventspils Stadions, is a multi-purpose stadium in Ventspils, Latvia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. Ventspils Stadions is the home stadium for FK Ventspils, and one of the most famous football stadia in the Latvia. The... , Ventspils Ventspils Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port... Daugava Stadium Daugava Stadium Daugava Stadium a multifunctional stadium in Riga, Latvia, which was opened in 1958. It helds footballl and athletics competitions. Since 1992 Daugava stadium has a Latvian national sports-based status. Before July 1990 the total capacity of the stadium was more than 10 000 people, but after the... , Liepāja Liepaja Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port... |
Kristo Tohver Audrius Žuta |
By club
| Club | 1st | 2nd | Seasons Won | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ventspils FK Ventspils FK Ventspils is a Latvian football club, based at Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions in Ventspils city and is one of the most popular football clubs in the country. FK Ventspils plays in the Latvian Virsliga. They are the current champions of the tournament.... |
1 | 2 | 4 | 2009–10 |
| Skonto Skonto FC Skonto FC is a Latvian football club, founded in 1991. The club plays at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Skonto won the Virsliga in the first 14 seasons of the league's existence , and often provides the core of the Latvia national football team... |
1 | 1 | 4 | 2010–11 2010–11 Baltic League The 2010–11 Baltic League is a 16-team football tournament held in the Baltic states. Five top teams from each participating country – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – along with the winner of the 2009–10 season will play a 4 round and 2 legged play-off style knockout tournament... |
| Metalurgs FHK Liepajas Metalurgs FK Liepājas Metalurgs is a Latvian football club, based in the city of Liepāja and playing in the Virslīga. They play at the Daugava Stadium... |
1 | 0 | 4 | 2007 |
| Kaunas FBK Kaunas Kauno futbolo beisbolo klubas is a Lithuanian football club from the city of Kaunas, that currently plays in the A Lyga, the top level of Lithuanian football.- History :... |
1 | 0 | 2 | 2008 |
| Sūduva |
0 | 1 | 3 | |
| Ekranas FK Ekranas Futbolo Klubas Ekranas is a Lithuanian football club, playing in the town of Panevėžys.The club was founded in 1964.It has won Lithuanian championships in 1985 , 1993, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Lithuanian Cup in 1985 , 1998, 2000, 2010 and 2011 and the Lithuanian Super Cup in 1998, 2006, 2010... |
0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Flora FC Flora Tallinn MTÜ JK FC Flora is an Estonian football club that was founded in 1990. FC Flora are a multiple winner of the Meistriliiga title and the Estonian Cup. They have for years been raising the most number of players for the national team, and have also grown players from their successful youth system... |
0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Levadia FC Levadia Tallinn MTÜ SK FC Levadia Tallinn is an Estonian football club based in Tallinn. The club was founded in 1998, under the name FC Levadia Maardu. FC Levadia currently play in the Meistriliiga, the highest level of Estonian football... |
0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Trans |
0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Dinaburg Dinaburg FC Dinaburg FC was a Latvian football club, playing in the city of Daugavpils. In 2009 it merged with FK Daugava. The club plays at the Daugava Stadium . In October 2009 the club was eliminated from Virsliga and also from The Baltic League, because of suspicion about totalizator playing at the club... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Žalgiris FK Žalgiris Vilnius VMFD Žalgiris is a Lithuanian football club, playing in the capital, Vilnius. They have won the Lithuanian Championship three times: 1991, 1992, and 1999. The team's colours are green and white... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| TVMK FC TVMK Tallinn FC TVMK is a defunct Estonian football club. TVMK won the Estonian Meistriliiga in 2005. They are also multiple winners of the Estonian Cup.-Name History:*TVMK Tallinn *TVMV Tallinn *Tevalte-Marlekor... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Vėtra FK Vetra FK Vėtra was a Lithuanian football team from the capital city of Vilnius.- History :The club was founded in 1997 and was initially based in Rūdiškės, a settlement in Vilnius district, and moved in 2003 to Vilnius city with the purchase of its own stadium.... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Banga FK Banga Gargždai FK Banga Gargždai is a Lithuanian football club from the city of Gargždai. The team earned promotion to the A Lyga, Lithuanias top football division, for the 2009 season after FBK Kaunas and Atlantas Klaipėda voluntarily withdrew their participation... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Jūrmala FK Jurmala FK Jūrmala-VV is a Latvian football club, playing in the top division of Latvian football. They are from the city of Jūrmala.-History:FK Jūrmala was founded in 2003 and its goals included creating a club infrastructure, building a modern stadium in Sloka and popularization of sports among children... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Kalju JK Nõmme Kalju JK Nõmme Kalju is an Estonian football club based in Nõmme, Tallinn. The club was originally established in 1923 and then re-established in 1997. Nõmme Kalju currently play in the Meistriliiga, the highest level of Estonian football after many adventures in lower divisions. Hiiu Staadion is their... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Sillamäe Kalev JK Sillamäe Kalev JK Sillamäe Kalev is an Estonian football club based in Sillamäe and was founded in 1951. The club currently play in the Meistriliiga, the highest level of Estonian football... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Šiauliai FK Šiauliai FK Šiauliai is a Lithuanian football team from the city of Šiauliai. The team plays in the Lithuanian top division A Lyga.Before 2004 it was known as "Sakalas Šiauliai".- Participation in Lithuanian Championships :* 2003 – 8th* 2004 – 1st... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Tauras FK Tauras Tauragė FK Tauras is a Lithuanian football team from the city of Tauragė. The team plays in the A Lyga, Lithuania's highest football division.- Name :During its history the club has changed its name several times:*1922 – Tauragės Sporto Sąjunga*19?? – Šauliai... |
0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Rīga FK Riga FK Rīga was a Latvian football club based in Riga. They played in the Virslīga, the top division in Latvian football. They played their home games at Latvijas Universitates Stadions. In 1999, its first year of existence, the club won the Latvian Cup, beating Skonto at the final. The club also... |
0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Olimps |
0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Blāzma |
0 | 0 | 1 |
By country
| Country | |1st | |2nd | |Seasons Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latvia |
3 | 3 | 2007, 2009–10, 2010–11 2010–11 Baltic League The 2010–11 Baltic League is a 16-team football tournament held in the Baltic states. Five top teams from each participating country – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – along with the winner of the 2009–10 season will play a 4 round and 2 legged play-off style knockout tournament... |
| Lithuania |
1 | 1 | 2008 |
| Estonia |
0 | 0 |
All-time top goalscorers
As of May 12, 2010.| # | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandrs Cauņa Aleksandrs Cauna Aleksandrs Cauņa is a Latvian football player, currently playing for PFC CSKA Moscow in the Russian Premier League.-Club career:... |
10 |
| Ģirts Karlsons Girts Karlsons Ģirts Karlsons is Latvian football striker currently playing for Azerbaijani club FC Inter Baku.-Club career:Karlsons started his career at FK Liepājas Metalurgs in 1998. He spent the next six season with the club... |
10 | |
| 3 | Ričardas Beniušis Ricardas Beniušis Ricardas Beniušis is a Lithuanian footballer.Beniušis started his career with Inkaras Kaunas in his homeland, returning there after short spells with Russian clubs Baltika Kaliningrad and Krylya Sovetov Samara... |
8 |
| 4 |  Rafael GaúchoRafael Gaúcho Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma , more commonly known as Gaúcho or Rafael Ledesma, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for FC Dinamo Minsk.... |
7 |
| 5 | Genādijs Soloņicins Genadijs Solonicins Genādijs Soloņicins is a football midfielder from Latvia, currently playing for Liepājas Metalurgs in Latvia.-Club career:Soloņicins played for Liepājas Metalurgs for 12 years, making his debut in 1997... |
6 |
| Egidijus Varnas Egidijus Varnas Egidijus Varnas is a Lithuanian football forward currently playing for FK Ekranas.Varnas made two appearances for the Lithuania national football team during 2001.-References:... |
6 | |
| 7 | Mindaugas Kalonas Mindaugas Kalonas Mindaugas Kalonas is a Lithuanian football midfielder. His current club is FC Metalurh Zaporizhya.- Football career :... |
5 |
| Mihails Miholaps Mihails Miholaps Mihails Miholaps is a former football striker from Latvia. His last club was Olimps/RFS in the Latvian Virsliga. Currently he is the manager of the team.... |
5 | |
| Andrejs Perepļotkins Andrejs Pereplotkins Andrejs Perepļotkins , is a Ukrainian born - Latvian footballer, who plays primarily as a right winger for Nasaf Qarshi in the Uzbek League.Although born in Ukraine, he plays internationally for Latvia... |
5 | |
| 10 | Viktors Dobrecovs Viktors Dobrecovs Viktors Dobrecovs is a football striker from Latvia. His current club is FK Liepājas Metalurgs. He is also the coach of Liepājas Metalurgs-2 - the reserve team of Liepājas Metalurgs.-References:**... |
4 |
| Aleksandr Dubõkin |
4 | |
 Vladimir DvalishviliVladimir Dvalishvili Vladimer "Lado" Dvalishvili is a Georgian footballer, currently playing in the Israeli Premier League for the Maccabi Haifa Football Club.-Career:Dvalishvili was signed by Olimpi Rustavi in June 2006.... |
4 | |
| Oļegs Laizāns Olegs Laizans Oļegs Laizāns is a Latvian football midfielder, currently playing for FK Ventspils in the Latvian Higher League and Latvia national football team.-Early Carreer, Skonto and loans:... |
4 | |
| Vīts Rimkus Vits Rimkus Vīts Rimkus is a football striker from Latvia, currently playing for Finikas Ayias Marinas Chrisohus in Cypriot Fourth Division, after being released by FK Ekranas in Lithuania.... |
4 | |
 Serhij SerneckiSerhij Sernecki Serhiy Mykolayovych Sernetskyi is a football striker from Ukraine. His current club is FK Ventspils.-Playing career:* - played games and goals-Facts:... |
4 | |
| Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko is an Estonian professional footballer, who plays for Debreceni VSC.-FC Flora Tallinn:In 2006, he was the world‘s most effective Top Division Goal Scorer with 1,2 goals per game.... |
4 | |
| Aleksejs Višņakovs Aleksejs Višnakovs Aleksejs Višņakovs is a Latvian football midfielder, who currently plays for Cracovia in the Ekstraklasa in Poland.-Latvia:... |
4 |