Dzintars Zirnis
Encyclopedia
Dzintars Zirnis is a Latvia
n football defender
, currently playing for FK Liepājas Metalurgs and the Latvian national team
.
, Kvadrāts Riga, Pārdaugava
and Baltika
before joining FK Liepājas Metalurgs in 1997. In September 2004 he played in the UEFA Cup
for Metalurgs in which the club beat Faroe Islands
club, B36 Tórshavn
111-2 over two legs in the first qualifying round, then beat Swedish
club Östers IF
in the second qualifying round. Metalurgs were beaten by German
club, FC Schalke 04
in the first round, 9-1 over two legs. On 1 October 2005 Zirnis was part of the Metalurgs team that beat FK Ventspils
5-1 to seal the clubs first ever Virsliga
championship
. In November 2003 he was a part of the Latvian team that beat Turkey
over two legs to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2004 finals; the first time Latvia had qualified for a major international tournament. and played at the finals in 2004.
He was sent off in the Baltic Cup final against Lithuania
in Kaunas
on 22 May 2005.
On 17 November 2007 he scored an own goal to give Liechtenstein
the lead in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group F match which Latvia eventually won 4-1.
He has played 68 international matches for Latvia national team
.
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 football defender
Defender
Defender usually refers to a position in association football .Defender or The Defender may also refer to:-Film and television:* The Defender or The Bodyguard from Beijing, a film starring Jet Li...
, currently playing for FK Liepājas Metalurgs and the Latvian national 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...
.
Club career
Zirnis played for FK Flaminko JūrmalaFK Flaminko Jurmala
RFS Flaminko is Latvian football club located in Riga....
, Kvadrāts Riga, Pārdaugava
FK Daugava Riga
Previously FK Daugava 90 is a Latvian football club located in Riga and currently playing in Latvian First League. Formerly under the name Daugava the team was the headliner of Latvian football where played most of the countries top players but with the collapse of the Soviet Union the team ceased...
and Baltika
FC Baltika Kaliningrad
Baltika is an association football club based in Kaliningrad, Russia. Currently the club plays in the Football Championship of the National League.-History:The club was founded on 22 December 1954 as Pishchevik Kaliningrad...
before joining FK Liepājas Metalurgs in 1997. In September 2004 he played in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup 2004-05
The 2004–05 UEFA Cup season was won by CSKA Moscow, coming from behind in the final against Sporting Clube de Portugal. It was the first win by a Russian side in any European competition, and was even more impressive considering that the final was held at the José Alvalade Stadium, the home of...
for Metalurgs in which the club beat Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
club, B36 Tórshavn
B36 Tórshavn
B36 Tórshavn or F.C. Tórshavn is a Faroese football club, based in the capital, Tórshavn...
111-2 over two legs in the first qualifying round, then beat Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
club Östers IF
Östers IF
Östers IF is a Swedish football club located in Växjö. The club, formed 20 April 1930 , is currently playing in the second Swedish league called Superettan. In 1968, Öster won Allsvenskan as newcomers. The club is affiliated to the Smålands Fotbollförbund...
in the second qualifying round. Metalurgs were beaten by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
club, FC Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
in the first round, 9-1 over two legs. On 1 October 2005 Zirnis was part of the Metalurgs team that beat 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....
5-1 to seal the clubs first ever Virsliga
Virsliga
-Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs...
championship
International career
Zirnis made his debut for Latvia on 19 August 1997 in a 0-0 draw with AzerbaijanAzerbaijan national football team
The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...
. In November 2003 he was a part of the Latvian team that beat Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
over two legs to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2004 finals; the first time Latvia had qualified for a major international tournament. and played at the finals in 2004.
He was sent off in the Baltic Cup final against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
on 22 May 2005.
On 17 November 2007 he scored an own goal to give Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein national football team
The Liechtenstein national football team is the national football team of Liechtenstein and is controlled by the Liechtenstein Football Association. The organisation is known as the Liechtensteiner Fussballverband in German. The team's first match was an unofficial match against Malta in Seoul, a...
the lead in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group F match which Latvia eventually won 4-1.
He has played 68 international matches for Latvia national 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...
.
Honours
Club- VirsligaVirsliga-Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs...
Champions (1): 2005 - VirsligaVirsliga-Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs...
Runners-up (3): 2003, 2004, 2006 - Latvian Cup Winners (1): 2006
- Baltic LeagueBaltic LeagueThe Baltic League is a Baltic football club tournament, launched in 2007 inspired by the now defunct Scandinavian tournament Royal League and by the Baltic Basketball League. The top four club sides from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania take part in the competition...
Champions (1): 2007Baltic League 2007The 2007 season of Baltic League was the first edition of the Baltic League. The competition was won by Liepājas Metalurgs of Latvia, who beat fellow Latvians FK Ventspils 8–2 on aggregate in the final, which was spread over two legs on 8 November 2007 and 11 November 2007.-Group A:1 Dinaburg FC...