Māris Verpakovskis (born 15 October 1979), is a Latvian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He played for the Latvia national team at UEFA Euro 2004 and is the only Latvian player to score at the end stage of a major international football tournament.
Club career
Latvia Born in Liepāja, Latvia, Verpakovskis started his career in hometown club FK Liepājas Metalurgs, for which he played from 1995 till 2001 and scored ten goals in 59 appearances. In 2001 Verpakovskis joined another Latvian side, Skonto Riga, where he scored 41 goals in 77 appearances. This period of time is known for being the peak of Verpakovskis' career. His performances were being recognized by many top European clubs, and in late 2003 he signed a contract with the Ukrainian top team Dynamo Kyiv.
Dynamo Kyiv Soon after joining, Verpakovskis quickly earned his spot in the starting 11, scoring five goals in 11 appearances. He scored his first UEFA Champions League goal against the Turkish club Trabzonspor, which helped Dynamo Kyiv qualify for the next round and later Verpakovskis also scored a goal against Real Madrid in the group stage, helping to earn a 2–2 draw in Kyiv. Verpakovskis scored a total of three goals in the Champions League. After being honored as Dynamo Kyiv's best player of 2004 by team fans his career slowly started to decline, majorly due to a conflict with Dynamo's former coach Yozhef Sabo.Apollo – Sports: Verpakovskis – Kijevas «Dinamo» gada futbolists. Apollo.lv. Retrieved on 17 October 2011. From that time Verpakovkis had been loaned out for several consecutive seasons, as his contract with Dynamo was still active.
Loans In 2007 Verpakovskis made a promising move to Spain, after he was signed on a loan deal by Getafe. Amid high competition for a place in the starting line-up, Verpakovskis scored one goal in 13 appearances. Right after returning from Spain, Verpakovskis was loaned to HNK Hajduk Split from Croatia, along with his Dynamo team-mates Florin Cernat and Goran Sablić.Verpakovskis pagarina līgumu ar "Dynamo", bet spēlēs "Hajduk" – Futbols –. Sportacentrs.com (18 July 2007). Retrieved on 17 October 2011. Verpakovskis had a good season in Hajduk, scoring five goals in 18 appearances and played the key role in team's victories. In early 2008 he suffered an injury and did not play for the remaining time of his loan at Hajduk Split. He made a short comeback to Kyiv during the summer of 2008. Verpakovskis was on a loan term with Spanish side Celta de Vigo for the 2008–09 season, playing eight league matches and scoring no goals. In 2009, Verpakovskis had to extend his contract with Dynamo Kyiv for two years and the Greek Super League club Ergotelis signed him on a two-year loan.Verpakovskis nākamās divas sezonas spēlēs Grieķijas klubā ‘Ergotelis’ – DELFI. Sports.delfi.lv. Retrieved on 17 October 2011. During those two years Verpakovskis played 46 league games and scored seven goals for the club. After the season, in 2011, his loan spell ended and he returned to Kyiv.Verpakovskis atstāj Hēraklejas "Ergotelis" – Leģionāri – Futbols –. Sportacentrs.com (31 May 2011). Retrieved on 17 October 2011.
FK Baku In 2011 Verpakovskis signed a contract with Azerbaijan Premier League club FC Baku for one season with an option to extend it for another one alongside his international team-mate Deniss Ivanovs.Verpakovskis parakstījis līgumu ar Starkova "Baku" – Leģionāri – Futbols –. Sportacentrs.com (30 June 2011). Retrieved on 17 October 2011. In his first season there Verpakovskis scored three goals in 19 league matches and it was decided by the club's board that the contract would be extended for another season. Verpakovskis renewed his contract in June 2012. The next season was not successful for the Latvian international as he saw himself lose the place in the starting eleven, making only eight league appearances and scoring no goals. Despite scoring two goals and helping Baku grab a 3–1 victory over Sumgayit FK in the 1/8 finals of the Azerbaijan Cup on 28 November 2012, Verpakovskis left the club in January 2013.
Ergotelis On 30 January 2013, rumours in the Greek and Latvian media appeared that Verpakovskis could rejoin the Greek Football League club Ergotelis. This information was officially confirmed by the club and the player one day later - on 31 January 2013. Verpakovskis made his return debut for the club on 20 February 2013 in a league match against Doxa Drama. On 29 April 2013, Verpakovskis scored both goals in his club's 2–0 league victory over Olympiacos Volos. Verpakovskis then scored in the last match of the season on 26 May 2013 to secure a 1–1 draw against Niki Volos. This goal and point secured Ergotelis a return to the Super League Greece. Verpakovskis made his Super League return debut on 26 August 2013 in a 2–0 victory over Levadiakos. He scored his first goal since return to the Superliga on 2 November 2013 in a 2–1 loss to PAOK On 10 November 2013, Verpakovskis scored for the second consecutive Superliga match, helping Ergotelis secure a 3–1 victory over Panthrakikos. In mid-season, January 2014, Verpakovskis informed Ergotelis that he was planning to retire in order to return to Latvia and jointly participate in establishment of a new football club in his local city Liepāja after the city's former club Liepājas Metalurgs had been dissolved. On 27 January 2014, he played his last match for Ergotelis as the club lost 1–0 to Panetolikos with Verpakovskis coming on as a late match substitute. After the game Verpakovskis was honoured by his teammates and the club's staff with the president Giannis Daskalakis handing him a special "Verpakovskis" jersey of Ergotelis and stating that "Ergotelis will be Verpakovskis' team for life and Heraklion is the place where Māris can always find his second family." Over one and a half season in Greece Verpakovskis had participated in 28 league matches and scored five goals. In a later interview Verpakovskis revealed that he had wished to finish the season in Greece but due to the limited time for establishment of a club he was forced to return to Latvia as soon as possible.
FK Liepāja On 23 January 2014, the establishment of the newly founded Latvian Higher League club FK Liepāja was officially announced, and following his return from Greece Verpakovkis took office as the club's president. Besides the administrative work he still retains an active player's status. During the 2014 season Verpakovskis appeared in nine league matches and scored one goal. He left the club in November 2018.
FK RFS A few days after leaving FK Liepāja, Verpakovskis was hired as director of football at FK RFS.Verpakovskis RFS ģenerāldirektora amatā oficiāli nomaina Krivuņecu, sports.tvnet.lv, 25 November 2018 It was confirmed on 25 November 2018.
On 31 May 2019, Verpakovskis played a game for FC Caramba Riga, playing 45 minutes and scoring a goal in a 4–0 victory, helping the team to reach the second leg of the Latvian Cup.Verpakovskis ar vārtu guvumu Latvijas kausā palīdz "Caramba" sagraut "Limbažus", sportacentrs.com, 31 May 2019
International career Verpakovskis made his debut for the Latvia national team on 9 September 1999 in a 2–1 victory over Greece, scoring in that match.Lff: Māris Verpakovskis. Lff.lv (15 October 1979). Retrieved on 17 October 2011. He rose to international prominence as the highest goalscorer for Latvia in their successful UEFA Euro 2004 qualification campaign, with six goals in ten matches. He scored once for Latvia in Euro 2004 and nearly scored what could have been a candidate for goal of the tournament against Germany, dribbling on a weaving run from the halfway line and beating four German players.
Verpakovskis was Latvia's top scorer in FIFA World Cup 2006 qualification, UEFA Euro 2008 qualification, as well as the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification. In September 2013, Verpakovskis won his 100th cap for the Latvia national team in a 1–0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Greece. On 29 May 2014, Verpakovskis played his last international match as Latvia beat Estonia in the semi-finals of the 2014 Baltic Cup. He was symbolically substituted by Edgars Gauračs just 13 minutes into the game and honoured by his teammates, national team's staff and supporters. After his retirement the national team's manager Marians Pahars referred to Verpakovskis as "a national team legend". All in all, internationally Verpakovskis has been capped 104 times for Latvia, scoring 29 goals. He is Latvia's all-time best scorer.
Verpakovskis is regarded as the most popular Latvian footballer having surpassed Marians Pahars as his country's most recognisable player. He is the leading all-time top goal scorer for Latvia, with 29 goals ().
Personal life Verpakovskis is the son of Ilmārs Verpakovskis, a Latvian footballer active from 1979 until 1996. Verpakovskis was managed by his father who was player-manager for FK Liepājas Metalurgs in 1994. The Verpakovskis are the only father-son pair to both play for the Latvia national team.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBaltika Liepāja1996Latvian Higher League3030Liepājas Metalurgs1997Latvian Higher League6060199816216219992152152000163163Total59105910Skonto2001Latvian Higher League271027102002259259200325222522Total77417741Dynamo Kyiv2003–04Premier League11521001362004–0523463923892005–069132101332006–07611031102Total49111261337420Getafe (loan)2006–07La Liga13151—182Hajduk Split (loan)2007–08Prva HNL1854010235Celta (loan)2008–09Segunda División8020—100Ergotelis (loan)2009–10Super League22321—2442010–1125410—264Total4773100508Baku2011–12Premier League19330—2232012–13801220112Total2734220335Ergotelis2012–13Football League183——1832013–14Super League Greece10220—122Total2852000305Liepāja2014Latvian Higher League9112—10320150011—11Total912300114Career total338843413163388100
International goals Scores and results list Latvia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Verpakovskis goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Māris VerpakovskisNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 9 June 1999 Athens, Greece 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 2000 Qualifying2 28 February 2001 Vaduz, Liechtenstein 2–0 2–0 Friendly3 3 July 2001 Riga, Latvia 1–0 3–1 Baltic Cup 20014 21 August 2002 Riga, Latvia 1–1 2–4 Friendly5 7 June 2003 Budapest, Hungary 1–0 1–3 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying6 10 September 2003 Riga, Latvia 1–0 3–1 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying7 3–08 11 October 2003 Stockholm, Sweden 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying9 15 November 2003 Riga, Latvia 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying10 19 November 2003 Istanbul, Turkey 2–2 2–2 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying11 31 March 2004 Celje, Slovenia 1–0 1–0 Friendly12 6 June 2004 Riga, Latvia 1–0 2–2 Friendly13 15 June 2004 Aveiro, Portugal 1–0 1–2 UEFA Euro 200414 8 September 2004 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg 1–0 4–3 FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualifying15 9 October 2004 Bratislava, Slovakia 1–0 1–4 FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualifying16 17 November 2004 Vaduz, Liechtenstein 1–0 3–0 FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualifying17 30 March 2005 Riga, Latvia 3–0 4–0 FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualifying18 4–019 7 October 2006 Riga, Latvia 2–0 4–0 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying20 3–0 21 13 October 2007 Reykjavík, Iceland 3–1 4–2 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying22 4–123 17 November 2007 Riga, Latvia 2–1 4–1 UEFA Euro 2008 Qualifying24 1 April 2009 Riga, Latvia 2–0 2–0 FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifying25 10 October 2009 Athens, Greece 1–1 2–5 FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifying26 2–127 7 September 2010 Ta' Qali, Malta 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying28 9 February 2011 Antalya, Turkey 1–0 2–1 Friendly29 12 October 2012 Bratislava, Slovakia 1–2 1–2 FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying
Honours Skonto Latvian Higher League: 2001, 2002 Latvian Cup: 2001, 2002
Dynamo Kyiv Ukrainian Premier League: 2004 Ukrainian Cup: 2005, 2006
FC Baku Azerbaijan Cup: 2012
FK Liepāja Latvian Higher League: 2015