FK Cēsis have appointed Chris Wilkinson as their new head of recruitment and completed the signing of experienced Latvian striker Ēriks Punculs.
Wilkinson will oversee player identification, scouting and recruitment across the club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams. He has worked in football scouting and recruitment since 2016, including spells with Institute FC in Northern Ireland and Portuguese club GDSC Alvarenga.
A Coventry University Sport Management graduate, Wilkinson initially joined FK Cēsis as sporting director in 2024. The club says he has since contributed to its recruitment strategy, international scouting network and promotion to Latvia’s 2. līga.
“From the moment I began speaking with the leadership at FK Cēsis, it was clear this is a club with genuine ambition and a long-term vision,” Wilkinson said.
“The commitment to developing players, creating international opportunities and establishing a sustainable football model made this an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up. I’m excited to help identify players who share those ambitions and contribute to the club’s future success.”
Punculs (32) joins FK Cēsis after a career that has included spells with Valmiera FC, Riga FC, FK Liepāja, Spartaks Jūrmala, FS Metta and Liepājas Metalurgs, as well as time in Spain.
The striker has made more than 160 appearances in Latvia’s top flight and scored over 30 Virslīga goals. He has also played in European competition and progressed through Latvia’s youth international teams before earning senior national-team selection.
“I’m proud to join FK Cēsis at such an exciting time in the club’s history,” Punculs said.
“I want to bring my experience, score goals, help the younger players develop and do everything I can to help FK Cēsis continue moving forward. Over the years, I have gained valuable experience at a high level, and now I’m looking forward to contributing that experience to FK Cēsis while helping the club continue to grow.”
FK Cēsis chief adviser Ben Tilney said Wilkinson’s knowledge of recruitment and international network made him the right person to lead the club’s recruitment operation.
“Chris has been instrumental in helping shape FK Cēsis into the club it is today,” Tilney said.
“Combined with the signing of a player of Ēriks’ quality and experience, today represents another important step in our ambition to build one of the most successful football clubs in the Baltic region.”
The appointments follow FK Cēsis’ promotion to Latvia’s 2. līga (third tier) and the launch of its FK Cēsis 2030 Initiative, through which the club is expanding its academy, international partnerships and player-development pathways.
