Latvian champions Riga FC have announced their first signing of the off-season by bringing in goalkeeper Frenks Dāvids Orols, marking the return of the 25-year-old shot-stopper to the club’s system.
Orols originally joined Riga FC in 2021 but spent the next two seasons on loan at BFC Daugavpils and FK Auda to gain first-team experience. In 2023, he left Riga as a free agent and signed for their main domestic rivals FC RFS, although his time there followed a similar pattern.
During his three seasons under contract with RFS, Orols did not make a senior appearance for the club’s first team, instead being loaned out to several Virslīga sides, including FK Tukums 2000, BFC Daugavpils, SK Super Nova and FK Grobiņa. In the most recent season, he represented Super Nova and Grobiņa, making a total of 30 league appearances and recording six clean sheets.
His impact was felt at both clubs, but most strongly at FK Grobiņa, where his performances between the posts played a key role in the club’s survival in Latvia’s top flight. Orols kept clean sheets in both promotion/relegation play-off matches against JDFS Alberts, effectively preserving Grobiņa’s place in the Virslīga.
After his contract expired, it was confirmed that Orols would not continue at RFS, instead sealing a return to Riga FC, where he will compete for the number one spot with Latvia international Krišjānis Zviedris. Zviedris was Riga’s first-choice goalkeeper this season and led the league with an impressive 20 clean sheets.
Standing at an imposing 204 cm, Orols has already accumulated significant top-flight experience. He has featured in 91 Virslīga matches, keeping 24 clean sheets during his career so far.
Since June last year, he has also been a regular call-up to the Latvia national team, though he is yet to make his senior debut and continues to wait for his first international appearance.
Source: https://rigafc.lv/orols-riga-football-club-vartsargs/
