Vadims Ulbergs
Encyclopedia
Vadims Ulbergs was a Latvia
n football
player and manager, one of the most respected veterans of Latvian football.
but soon he joined the most popular pre-war Latvian football club - Rīgas FK
. First he played with the junior squad but aged just 17 he made his debut in Virslīga
. At that time RFK had a very strong squad which included Latvia national football team
players Ēriks Pētersons
, Sergejs Maģers
, Fricis Kaņeps
and others. Thus Ulbergs usually got to play only if some of the main squad players were injured.
With Rīgas FK Ulbergs stayed until 1942, then in order not to be called into German army, he took up work on the railroad and joined the newly founded football club Daugavieši. In 1944 Ulbergs was arrested because of a remark that one of his friends had made in a restaurant during Ēriks Pētersons
birthday party about Adolf Hitler
. Some time later he managed to escape and awaited the end of the war hiding in the woods.
After the war Ulbergs joined the FK Dinamo Rīga but because of an injury he soon switched from playing to coaching. For many years he worked in the Daugava sports school, but in the 1960s he was offered to work with FK Daugava Rīga
senior squad. In different positions (both coaching and managing) Ulbergs worked with Daugava until the collapse of the club in early 1990s. Later he was an assistant of Jānis Gilis
in the Latvia national football 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
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...
player and manager, one of the most respected veterans of Latvian football.
Biography
His first choice in sports was basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
but soon he joined the most popular pre-war Latvian football club - Rīgas FK
Rigas 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...
. First he played with the junior squad but aged just 17 he made his debut in Virslīga
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...
. At that time RFK had a very strong squad which included 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...
players Ēriks Pētersons
Eriks Petersons
Ēriks Pētersons was Latvian 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...
, Sergejs Maģers
Sergejs Magers
Sergejs Maģers was a Latvian footballer who played for Latvia national football team in late 1930s.Maģers as a footballer was found by Rīgas FK in Rēzekne and soon he was invited to play in the Latvian national team...
, Fricis Kaņeps
Fricis Kaneps
Fricis Kaņeps was a Latvian footballer. He was one of the most powerful Latvian forwards of the 1930s who didn't have a very good technique but compensated it mostly by his physical strength...
and others. Thus Ulbergs usually got to play only if some of the main squad players were injured.
With Rīgas FK Ulbergs stayed until 1942, then in order not to be called into German army, he took up work on the railroad and joined the newly founded football club Daugavieši. In 1944 Ulbergs was arrested because of a remark that one of his friends had made in a restaurant during Ēriks Pētersons
Eriks Petersons
Ēriks Pētersons was Latvian 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...
birthday party about Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. Some time later he managed to escape and awaited the end of the war hiding in the woods.
After the war Ulbergs joined the FK Dinamo Rīga but because of an injury he soon switched from playing to coaching. For many years he worked in the Daugava sports school, but in the 1960s he was offered to work with FK Daugava Rīga
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...
senior squad. In different positions (both coaching and managing) Ulbergs worked with Daugava until the collapse of the club in early 1990s. Later he was an assistant of Jānis Gilis
Janis Gilis
Jānis Gilis , was the first general manager of Latvia national football team after Latvia regained independence.-Playing career:...
in the 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...
.