Imants Bleidelis (born 16 August 1975) is a Latvian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made 106 appearances for the Latvia national team.
Club career Born in Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union, Bleidelis started his career at Skonto in 1992. In 1994, he played for Inter Skonto, and then between 1994 and 1999 he played 128 games scoring 24 games for Skonto. Skonto then sold him to English club, Southampton who were then in the Premier League, for £650,000, where he joined fellow countryman Marians Pahars. Bleidelis signed a three-and-a-half-year contract. He played only three league games in three seasons, and after being allowed to go on trial in Denmark with Superliga club, Viborg January 2003 Southampton released him on 26 January, and two days later he signed a two-year contract with Viborg, where he scored six goals in 57 appearances.
He left Viborg in winter 2004 after turning down a new contract. Despite offers from two Latvian clubs, Skonto and Venta, in 2005, he moved to Austria to play for Austrian Bundesliga club Grazer AK, where he signed a two-year contract. He made his debut for the club on 17 February 2005 in the UEFA Cup against English club Middlesbrough.
He moved back to Latvia in 2006 with Jūrmala. In 2007, he moved to Liepājas Metalurgs. Bleidelis had his contract with Liepājas Metalurgs terminated on 7 July 2008, along with another Latvian international, Andrejs Rubins.
International career Bleidelis played over 100 international matches and scored ten goals for the Latvia national team. He made his debut on 19 May 1995 against Estonia in the Baltic Cup. He played at the Euro 2004 finals and his 100th appearance came on 2 June 2007 against Spain in UEFA European Championship qualifier.
Career statistics International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsLatvia199560199650199713219989219997120007020019020028020031032004120200582200640200780Total10610
Scores and results list Latvia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bleidelis goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Imants BleidelisNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia2–04–1Friendly24–13National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta1–21–2Friendly4Pärnu Rannastaadion, Pärnu, Estonia2–02–0Friendly5Boris Paichadze National Stadium, Tbilisi, Georgia1–22–2UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying6Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia2–03–0UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying73–08Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia 2–03–1UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying 9Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia 1–04–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification10Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia 1–01–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours Skonto Virsliga: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 Latvian Football Cup: 1995, 1997, 1998
Metalurgs Baltic League: 2007
See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
References
External links
Profile at the Latvian Football Federation International career at www.rsssf.com