Eriks Petersons
Encyclopedia
Ēriks Pētersons was Latvia
n footballer and hockey player
. In time between 1929–1939 he played 63 international matches and scored 21 goal for Latvia national team
. He also played in Latvian national ice hockey team
, where he appeared in 8 matches. After World War II
Pētersons moved to United States
.
. He started as a center forward but soon changed his position on the field to central midfield in which he still retained his goal scoring abilities. All his career Pētersons played for a single club - RFK. He was the most capped Latvia international footballer before World War II
—he participated in 63 of the total 99 matches Latvia played in this time period. He was also the country's best international goalscorer of the 20th century. In 2007, Māris Verpakovskis
overtook him in the all-time Latvia scoring list. His last football match in Latvia was in the 1939–1940 season against Olimpija Liepāja
as he didn't play neither during the first Soviet, nor the German occupation of Latvia. After the war, Pētersons moved to the USA where he played for the Swedish
football club Chicago Viking. In 2006 Pētersons was selected as one of the 11 greatest Latvian footballers of the 20th century and by many he is considered the all-time best Latvian footballer.
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 and hockey player
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
. In time between 1929–1939 he played 63 international matches and scored 21 goal 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...
. He also played in Latvian national ice hockey team
Latvian national ice hockey team
The Latvian men's national ice hockey team is currently ranked 12th in the world by IIHF as of 2011. The team is controlled by the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation. Its current head coach is Ted Nolan. Their best finishes ever at the World Championships were in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2009 where they...
, where he appeared in 8 matches. After 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...
Pētersons moved to United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Ēriks Pētersons was first noticed in 1928 when he moved from a third league team directly to the strongest football club in Latvia—Rīgas FKRigas 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...
. He started as a center forward but soon changed his position on the field to central midfield in which he still retained his goal scoring abilities. All his career Pētersons played for a single club - RFK. He was the most capped Latvia international footballer 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...
—he participated in 63 of the total 99 matches Latvia played in this time period. He was also the country's best international goalscorer of the 20th century. In 2007, Māris Verpakovskis
Maris Verpakovskis
Māris Verpakovskis , is a Latvian football forward, currently playing for the Azerbaijan Premier League club FK Baku in Azerbaijan and the Latvia national football team.-Latvia:...
overtook him in the all-time Latvia scoring list. His last football match in Latvia was in the 1939–1940 season against Olimpija Liepāja
Olimpija Liepaja
Olimpija Liepāja was Latvian football club that in the 1920-1930s was one of the strongest in Latvia and with which played many Latvia national football team footballers. It was from the city of Liepāja.-History:...
as he didn't play neither during the first Soviet, nor the German occupation of Latvia. After the war, Pētersons moved to the USA where he played for the 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....
football club Chicago Viking. In 2006 Pētersons was selected as one of the 11 greatest Latvian footballers of the 20th century and by many he is considered the all-time best Latvian footballer.