Deniss Rakels
Encyclopedia
Deniss Rakels is a Latvia
n footballer
, who currently plays for I liga club GKS Katowice
in Poland on loan from Zagłębie Lubin.
in the Latvian First League
. While playing for the reserve team of Metalurgs, he was an outstanding team leader - he scored regularly and was impressive with his speed to finish the through balls. In 2009, only 17 years old, he was called up to the first team squad by that time Metalurgs manager Rüdiger Abramczik
. He had no difficulties to fit into the first team level soon after joining, becoming a regular first eleven player. Even more - he scored in nearly every appearance. In fact, just after a few appearances Deniss had already completed 2 league hat-tricks. His technique and footballing skills have impressed many coaches all around the world, despite he is just 18. In December 2009 he went on trial with the Italian
Serie A
side Sampdoria. In April 2010 he joined Swiss Super League
team Basel
on trial, but in August 2010 in a league game against FK Ventspils
he was scouted by Werder Bremen scouts.
to gain exparience due to his limited game time in Lubin.
since 2009. In June 2010 he was firstly called up to the senior side
for the 2010 Baltic Cup
by the manager Aleksandrs Starkovs
, who was amazed of youngster's great appearances in the national championship.
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...
, who currently plays for I liga club GKS Katowice
GKS Katowice
GKS Katowice is a Polish football club based in Katowice, Poland. The club currently plays in the Polish First League.-History:In 1963 in Katowice a special organizational committee was called with the purpose of uniting all the clubs and sporting organizations of city into one large club which...
in Poland on loan from Zagłębie Lubin.
Early career in Latvia
Rakels started his youth career in his local town club Jēkabpils RSS, later on moving to another club from the same city - Jēkabpils SC. In 2007 he left signing for FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2FK Liepajas Metalurgs-2
Liepājas Metalurgs-2 is a Latvian football team from Liepāja city. It is a farm-team of FHK Liepājas Metalurgs.-FHK Liepājas Metalurgs reserves team squad:...
in the Latvian First League
Latvian First League
The Latvian First League is the second tier of football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation. From the 2007 season, the tournament has been known as the Traffic 1. līga, due to its sponsorship by the "Traffic auto advert" advertising company.-Format:There are 14 clubs in...
. While playing for the reserve team of Metalurgs, he was an outstanding team leader - he scored regularly and was impressive with his speed to finish the through balls. In 2009, only 17 years old, he was called up to the first team squad by that time Metalurgs manager Rüdiger Abramczik
Rüdiger Abramczik
Rüdiger Abramczik is a former German football player and coach, best known for his ability to cross the ball ....
. He had no difficulties to fit into the first team level soon after joining, becoming a regular first eleven player. Even more - he scored in nearly every appearance. In fact, just after a few appearances Deniss had already completed 2 league hat-tricks. His technique and footballing skills have impressed many coaches all around the world, despite he is just 18. In December 2009 he went on trial with the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
side Sampdoria. In April 2010 he joined Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
team Basel
FC Basel
Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the...
on trial, but in August 2010 in a league game against FK 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....
he was scouted by Werder Bremen scouts.
Zagłębie Lubin
In December 2010 it was announced that Rakels would go on a training camp together with the Russian giants Rubin Kazan in January 2011, but the player himself decided to reject the offer, because the Polish Ekstraklasa club Zagłębie Lubin were showing a keen interest in signing him. This scenario turned out to be true and on 30 January 2011, after passing medical tests, Rakels signed a contract with them.GKS Katowice
On August 17, 2011 Rakels was sent on a season long loan spell to Polish I liga club GKS KatowiceGKS Katowice
GKS Katowice is a Polish football club based in Katowice, Poland. The club currently plays in the Polish First League.-History:In 1963 in Katowice a special organizational committee was called with the purpose of uniting all the clubs and sporting organizations of city into one large club which...
to gain exparience due to his limited game time in Lubin.
International career
Rakels has been a vital first eleven player for Latvia U-19Latvia national under-19 football team
The Latvia national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of Latvia and is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship, held every year.-Coaching staff:...
since 2009. In June 2010 he was firstly called up to the senior side
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...
for the 2010 Baltic Cup
2010 Baltic Cup
The Lithuania Baltic Cup 2010 football competition was held from 18 June to 20 June 2010 at the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas, Lithuania.Hosts Lithuania together with Latvia and Estonia are the teams who played in this tournament.-Results:...
by the manager Aleksandrs Starkovs
Aleksandrs Starkovs
Aleksandrs Starkovs is a Latvian football coach and a former footballer. Starkovs is currently in his second spell as manager of the Latvian national team and is also the manager of FK Baku, having previously managed clubs such as Spartak Moscow in Russia and Skonto FC in Latvia.-Playing...
, who was amazed of youngster's great appearances in the national championship.
Interesting
- Rakels is of PolishPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
descent.
- Rakels has 3 tattoos on his body. The fist one is his name, the second one is his mother's name, while the third one is a wish for his parents in Arabian.