Following the Latvian U-19 national team’s recent qualification for the Elite Round of the UEFA European Championship, the Executive Committee of the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) has approved a two-year contract extension for head coach Viktors Dobrecovs.
Dobrecovs, appointed in February 2024, has overseen a period of sustained success. During his tenure, Latvia’s U-19 side has twice reached the Elite Round of European qualifying and secured back-to-back Baltic Cup titles. He also led the team into an Elite Round tournament shortly after taking charge, signalling an immediate uplift in performance and organisation.
“The results speak for themselves. Under this coaching staff, the team has shown clear development and strong performances on the international stage, demonstrating both the players’ and coaches’ professionalism,” said LFF President Vadims Ļašenko. “Extending the contract ensures the continuity needed to build on the foundations already established.”
The contract renewal comes on the heels of Latvia’s latest achievement in the 2026 European Championship qualifying cycle, where the U-19 team clinched Elite Round qualification for the fourth time in a row with a crucial 2:1 victory over hosts Lithuania. Needing only a win to advance, Latvia delivered under pressure: Marats Gaļajevs opened the scoring with a strike from the edge of the box, while Roberts Kukulis secured the decisive second goal early in the second half. The result capped a competitive group campaign that included a 2:2 draw with Scotland and a heavy defeat to England, ultimately securing Latvia the group’s second place and reinforcing the team’s sustained progress under Dobrecovs. The draw for the Elite Round groups of next year’s European Championship qualification will take place on 10th December.
Dobrecovs, who was coaching the U-19 squad alongside his duties as head coach of FK Grobiņa this season, was sacked by the club at the end of September after a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw them forced to fight for survival in relegation play-offs for the second season in a row.
Source: https://lff.lv/zinas/18676/pagarina-ligumu-ar-latvijas-u-19-izlases-galveno-treneri-dobrecovu/
