Janis Bebris
Encyclopedia
Jānis Bebris was a Latvia
n footballer
, he was the main goalkeeper
of Latvia national football team
in the closing years of 1930s. After World War II
, Bebris played in West Germany
and France
.
Bebris soon attracted the attention of the national football team management, soon he moved to a stronger Riga
club - Rīgas Vilki. Bebris made his début for Latvia at the age of 18 when Latvia played Lithuania
in the Baltic Cup. In the following years Bebris alongside of Harijs Lazdiņš
from Olimpija Liepāja
was the leading goalkeeper in Latvian football. In total he made 21 international appearance for Latvia.
Bebris played with RV until the club was disbanded in 1940, in 1941 he played with RDKA Riga. During the Second World War Bebris was forced to join the Red Army
in 1941, then after being captured by the Germans, he was forced to side with them.
After the war Bebris landed in West Germany where he played with TSV Schwaben Augsburg
for two seasons in Oberliga Süd
, making 53 appearances for the club in league matches.
In 1948 Bebris was transferred to France
where he joined RC Strasbourg
. In the 1948/49 Bebris played 17 league matches as Strasbourg finished in a respectable 6th position in Division 1
, in the next season he played just a single match as the club finished 17th and avoided relegation only thanks to liquidation of the professional club of SR Colmar
. After the unsuccessful season Bebris retired from playing. He died in 1969.
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...
, he was the main goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
of 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...
in the closing years of 1930s. 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...
, Bebris played in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Biography
Bebris started playing football at the age of 16. Because of his then fragile body he was immediately assigned the post of the goalkeeper. Playing with Union RigaUnion Riga
Union Riga was a football club established in Riga in 1907. It was the winner of the Riga football league in 1910. In the period of independence of Latvia between the World wars Union played in the Latvian Higher League for several years...
Bebris soon attracted the attention of the national football team management, soon he moved to a stronger 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,...
club - Rīgas Vilki. Bebris made his début for Latvia at the age of 18 when Latvia played 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 the Baltic Cup. In the following years Bebris alongside of Harijs Lazdiņš
Harijs Lazdinš
Harijs Lazdiņš was a Latvian football goalkeeper who played for Olimpija Liepāja and Latvia national football team in 1920s-1930s.-Biography:...
from 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:...
was the leading goalkeeper in Latvian football. In total he made 21 international appearance for Latvia.
Bebris played with RV until the club was disbanded in 1940, in 1941 he played with RDKA Riga. During the Second World War Bebris was forced to join the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in 1941, then after being captured by the Germans, he was forced to side with them.
After the war Bebris landed in West Germany where he played with TSV Schwaben Augsburg
TSV Schwaben Augsburg
TSV Schwaben Augsburg is a German football club which is part of a larger sports association whose origins go back to the 1847 formation of the gymnastics club Turnverein Augsburg...
for two seasons in Oberliga Süd
Oberliga Süd (1945-63)
The Oberliga Süd was the highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963.It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
, making 53 appearances for the club in league matches.
In 1948 Bebris was transferred to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he joined RC Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
. In the 1948/49 Bebris played 17 league matches as Strasbourg finished in a respectable 6th position in Division 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, in the next season he played just a single match as the club finished 17th and avoided relegation only thanks to liquidation of the professional club of SR Colmar
SR Colmar
Sports Réunis Colmar is a French association football team founded in 1920.-History:They are based in Colmar, Alsace and are currently playing in the Championnat National, the third tier in the French football after winning Group A of the Championnat de France amateur in the 2009–10 season. The...
. After the unsuccessful season Bebris retired from playing. He died in 1969.