Eduards Višņakovs

Eduards Višņakovs (born 10 May 1990) is a Latvian footballer.

Eduards Višņakovs
Personal information
Full name Eduards Višņakovs
Date of birth (1990-05-10) 10 May 1990
Place of birth Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Republic of Latvia)
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
–2003 JFC Skonto
2003–2007 Daugava Rīga
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Daugava-90 Rīga 30 (30)
2009–2012 Ventspils 74 (25)
2009 → Tranzit (loan) 19 (3)
2012–2013 Shakhter Karagandy 20 (4)
2013–2014 Widzew Łódź 39 (12)
2014–2015 Ruch Chorzów 33 (6)
2015–2017 Westerlo 16 (2)
2016–2017 → Ruch Chorzów (loan) 15 (1)
2017–2018 Rīgas Futbola Skola 10 (4)
2019–2020 Shakhtyor Soligorsk 3 (0)
2020 → Spartaks Jūrmala (loan) 8 (0)
National team‡
2008–2009 Latvia U-19
2010–2012 Latvia U-21 18 (0)
2013–2017 Latvia 15 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 December 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 November 2017

Club career

Early career

Born in Riga, as a youth player Višņakovs played for his local club JFC Skonto till 2003, when he moved to Daugava Rīga. Being taken to the first team in 2008, Višņakovs scored 30 goals in 30 Latvian First League appearances, becoming the top scorer of the league and helping his team clinch an automatic promotion to the Latvian Higher League.[1] He was also named the league's best player in a ceremony on 22 December 2008.[2]

FK Ventspils

Before the start of the 2009 Latvian Higher League season Višņakovs refused to extend his contract with Daugava, joining that time Latvian champions FK Ventspils. Right after joining Višņakovs was given out on loan to the league's newcomers FC Tranzit in order to get more experience. During this loan spell Višņakovs scored 3 goals in 19 league matches, returning from loan in August 2009. During his time at FK Ventspils, Višņakovs scored 25 goals in 74 league matches, helping the team lift all the possible trophies of the country, including Baltic League in 2010, Latvian Higher League and Latvian Cup in 2011. Višņakovs also participated in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League group stages.

Shakhter Karagandy

In June 2012 Višņakovs moved to the Kazakhstan Premier League champions Shakhter Karagandy.[3] He scored his first league goal for the club on 9 July 2012 in a 5–1 victory over FC Zhetysu.[4] All in all, Višņakovs participated in 20 league matches, scoring 4 goals. He helped his team become the champions of Kazakhstan in 2012 and lift the Kazakhstan Super Cup in 2013.

Widzew Łódź

In July 2013 Višņakovs went on trial with the Polish Ekstraklasa club Widzew Łódź and signed a one-year contract with them after a successful trial.[5] He scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over Zawisza Bydgoszcz on his debut for the club.[6] In his second match for Widzew, Višņakovs yet again scored both goals, securing a 2–1 victory over Korona Kielce.[7] On 18 August 2013 Višņakovs scored the only goal in a 1-0 Polish Cup 1/16 finals victory over Ursus Warszawa.[8] On 25 August 2013 Višņakovs scored his fifth goal of the season in a 1-3 loss against Śląsk Wrocław.[9] He scored his sixth goal of the season on 6 October 2013 in a 4-1 victory over Lechia Gdańsk.[10] Višņakovs scored his seventh and eighth goal of the season, respectively, in a 3-1 loss to Zagłębie Lubin[11] and a 2-1 victory over Pogoń Szczecin on 19 October and 2 November 2013.[12] At the start of December 2013 Višņakovs extended his contract with Widzew till June 2016.[13] All in all he scored 12 goals in 36 league matches that season and was reportedly close to a move to the German Bundesliga, while Widzew were relegated from the Ekstraklasa.[14]

2014 transfer saga

In December 2013 it was reported that Widzew had rejected an offer of 450 000 euros for Višņakovs from the Polish champions Legia Warsaw.[15] Having been previously linked with a possible move to either FC St. Pauli, Hamburger SV, SC Freiburg or Schalke 04,[16] Višņakovs finally went on trial with the Russian Premier League club Torpedo Moscow in July 2014, the only team ready to pay the transfer fee requested by Widzew.[17] Višņakovs himself stated that his priority was the German Bundesliga but that Lech Poznań, who were also interested in the player, was an alternative.[18]

Ruch Chorzow

On 28 August 2014 Višņakovs officially moved to the Polish Ekstraklasa club Ruch Chorzów, signing a three-year contract.[19] He made his debut for Ruch on 31 August 2014 in a 3-3 draw against Lechia Gdańsk, coming on as a substitute and scoring a goal.[20]

International career

Eduards Višņakovs has represented Latvia at U-19 and U-21 levels. He participated and scored a goal in the U-23 friendly match against Estonia on 5 June 2013, helping his team secure a 2–0 victory.[21] On 10 September 2013 the U-23 team beat England 1-0, with Višņakovs scoring his second goal in two matches.[22] Višņakovs was firstly called up to Latvia national football team for the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying matches against Lithuania and Slovakia on 11 and 15 October 2013.[23] He made his debut for the national team in the match against Lithuania, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute and replacing Māris Verpakovskis.[24] A local scandal arose when Widzew refused to fulfill its previously given promise to the Latvian Football Federation and did not allow Višņakovs to join the national team for the Baltic Cup matches in May 2014.[25] Resentment was expressed by the Latvian Football Federation and the player himself but Latvia, eventually, went on to win the tournament without the help of Višņakovs.[26] In September 2014, prior to the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Kazakhstan, Višņakovs revealed that while he was playing for Shakhter Karagandy he was urged to take on Kazakhstani citizenship but despite not being on the radar of Latvia national team at the time, he had declined the offers stating that he would only play internationally for Latvia.[27]

International goals
Scores and Results show Latvia's goal tally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
1.28 March 2015Eden Arena, Vršovice, Czech Republic Czech Republic
1–0
1–1
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification

Honours

FK Daugava Rīga
  • Latvian First League champion
    • 2008
  • Latvian First League top scorer
    • 2008

FK Ventspils
  • Baltic League champion
    • 2010
  • Latvian Higher League champion
    • 2011
  • Latvian Cup winner
    • 2011

FC Shakhter Karagandy
  • Kazakhstan Premier League champion
    • 2012
  • Kazakhstan Super Cup winner
    • 2013

Personal life

His elder brother Aleksejs is also a professional footballer.[28] While Eduards was a part of FK Ventspils squad, they also played together. In 2013 they became the second pair of brothers to play for Widzew together after Lithuanians Artūras and Igoris Steško during the 2001-2002 season.

References
  1. "1. līgā triumfē "Daugava" – 1. līga – Futbols –". Sportacentrs.com. 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  2. "LFF: Pirmās līgas labākais futbolists 2008 - Eduards Višņakovs". Lff.lv. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  3. "E.Višņakovs pārceļas uz Kazahstānu, Cauņam 60 minūtes pārbaudes spēlē – Leģionāri – Futbols –". Sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  4. "E.Višņakovs iesit Kazahstānā, Cauņa CSKA pamatsastāvā – Leģionāri – Futbols –". Sportacentrs.com. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  5. "E.Višņakovs noslēdz līgumu ar Polijas Ekstraklases klubu ''Widzew'' – Leģionāri – Futbols –". Sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  6. "E.Višņakovs Polijas Ekstraklases debijā gūst divus vārtus – Leģionāri – Futbols –". Sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  7. "E.Višņakovs turpina uguņot Polijā - vēl divi vārti un spraiga uzvara – Leģionāri – Futbols –". Sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  8. "Višņakovs atkal gūst vārtus, Lukjanovs debitē". Sportacentrs.com. 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  9. "Brāļa Alekseja debijā Eduards Višņakovs gūst 5. vārtus". Sportacentrs.com. 2013-08-25. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  10. "E.Višņakovam sestie vārti Polijā, Rudņeva "Hamburg" grauj ar 5:0". Sportacentrs.com. 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  11. "Eduardam Višņakovam jau 7.vārti Polijas Ekstraklasē". Sportacentrs.com. 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  12. "Verpakovskim sezonas pirmie vārti Grieķijā, E.Višņakovam - astotie Polijā". Sportacentrs.com. 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  13. "E.Višņakovs pagarinājis līgumu ar "Widzew" līdz 2016. gadam". Sportacentrs.com. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  14. "E. Višņakovam 12. vārti Polijā. Pārcelsies uz bundeslīgu?". Apollo.tvnet.lv. 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  15. "Polijas čempione piedāvājusi 450 tūkstošus par Eduardu Višņakovu". sportacentrs.com. 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  16. "Par E.Višņakovu interesējas arī "Hamburg" un "Schalke"". sporta-klubi.lv. 2014-06-04. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  17. "Eduards Visnakovs na testach w Torpedo Moskwa". sportowefakty.pl. 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  18. "E. Višņakova prioritāte ir Vācijas klubi, rezerves variants - Poznaņa". sportacentrs.com. 2014-06-13. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  19. "Eduards Višņakovs ar 'Ruch' vienojies par trīs gadu līgumu". delfi.lv. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  20. "Eduards Višņakovs 'Ruch' komandā debitē ar vārtu guvumu". delfi.lv. 2014-08-31. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  21. "Latvijas U23 izlase draudzības spēlē uzvar igauņus – Latvijas izlase – Futbols –". Sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 2013-08-05.
  22. "E.Višņakovam vārti, Latvijas U23 izlase pārspēj Angliju". sportacentrs.com. 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  23. "Pahars paziņo kandidātus spēlēm ar Lietuvu un Slovākiju". lff.lv. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  24. "FIFA Pasaules Kausa kvalifikācija LIETUVA - LATVIJA 2:0". lff.lv. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  25. ""Widzew" tomēr nelaiž E.Višņakovu uz izlasi; par uzbrucēju interesējas Bundeslīgas klubs". sportacentrs.com. 2014-05-29. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  26. "Latvijas futbola izlase nosargā Baltijas kausu". delfi.lv. 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  27. "E. Višņakovs: "Arī mani mudināja pieņemt Kazahstānas pilsonību"". 2014-09-02. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  28. http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/legionari/16082013-aleksejs_visnakovs_trenejas_kopa_ar_eduar
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