Estonian specialist Vladimir Vassiljev, who was officially announced as the new FK Liepāja head coach earlier today, has revealed how the move to the Latvian club came about.
Speaking to Estonian outlet Soccernet.ee, Vassiljev revealed that Liepāja had monitored him for several weeks before making their final decision. The first contact reportedly came around two weeks before his appointment, with club officials requesting information about his football philosophy and tactical ideas before progressing discussions further.
According to Vassiljev, Liepāja’s vision played a significant role in convincing him to accept the offer. “The club wants to play dominant football and provide entertainment for supporters. We see football in a similar way,” he told Soccernet.ee.
Although Liepāja currently sit outside the Virslīga’s top three and trail third-placed FK Auda by a significant margin, the club’s immediate objective remains securing European football for next season. That can be achieved either through a top-three league finish, winning the Latvian Cup, or potentially finishing fourth depending on cup results.
Vassiljev is not entirely unfamiliar with his new club. He admitted he had followed Liepāja regularly recently, partly because Brazilian midfielder Fellipe Vieira previously played under him at STK Samorin. Before officially accepting the position, he also attended Liepāja’s away match against FS Jelgava and observed the team’s recent 3-0 victory over FK Tukums 2000 from close range.
The Estonian coach has already identified areas he wants to improve. “I want the team to dominate both with and without the ball. I felt there was a lack of aggression and energy, and I want to bring more of that into the team,” Vassiljev said.
Vassiljev has signed a contract until the end of the 2026 season with an option for an additional year. His first official match in charge will come after the international break on 12 June, when Liepāja host SK Super Nova in the Virslīga.
