A newly launched community-driven database called “latvianplayers.com” is dedicated to tracking Latvian footballers and footballers of Latvian descent playing abroad.
Founded by Renārs Krīgers and Raimonds Kaže, the new website features a database of both male and female footballers competing in different leagues across the globe. Notable names include Deniss Cirkins, a defender for Sunderland in the English Championship, whose parents are Latvian. Beyond the UK, Latvian footballers can be found in countries as diverse as South Korea, Scotland, Cambodia, Italy, and the United States.
According to the information in the database, the UK is home to about 18 Latvian male footballers playing across England, Scotland, and Wales, with around 60,000 Latvians residing in the country. Italy hosts 29 Latvian players, while 21 are currently based in Germany. The United States has the highest number of Latvian female footballers, with eight players competing at various levels. The youngest player tracked is a female footballer who is 12 years old, whilst the oldest is veteran goalkeeper Māris Eltermanis, 43, continues his career in Sweden with Alta.
“This tool serves as a valuable resource not only for football enthusiasts and journalists but also for the Latvian Football Federation.” said one of the founders of this initiative – Renārs Krīgers. “It enables centralized tracking of players’ careers worldwide, offering deeper insights and scouting opportunities.”
LatvianPlayers.com is now live and actively updating its player database. Fans, scouts, and football enthusiasts are invited to explore the site and contribute to the growing network of Latvian talent worldwide.
Speaking to Baltic Football News, Renārs explained the rationale behind this initiative:
The primary goal of this platform is not just to list Latvian footballers playing abroad—something that has never been available in one place before—but more importantly, to identify previously unknown players whose parents or grandparents emigrated from Latvia. Overall, in the past 20 years, around half a million people have emigrated from Latvia to the USA, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and other countries. We need to identify their children and grandchildren so they can represent Latvia in the future. These players may be eligible to represent Latvia’s national teams in the future
Reflecting on the experience of cataloguing Latvian players abroad, Krīgers, who is also Head of Marketing and Communications at the Latvian Football Federation, reflected:
Building this database has highlighted a key issue: the lack of Latvian players in top leagues and academies. The LFF’s #FutbolsVisiem strategy aims to change this by increasing Latvian representation in the Top 20 leagues by 2030. This website plays a crucial role in identifying talent and expanding scouting efforts to achieve that goal.
With an estimated 370,000 Latvians living abroad, the global diaspora has played an important role in shaping Latvia’s global footprint. Historical migration waves—from economic movements in the early 20th century to political exiles following Soviet occupation—have led to thriving Latvian communities across Europe, North America, Australia, and beyond. As a result, Latvian football talent has emerged in various leagues worldwide, bringing new opportunities for international representation. Even the legendary German goalkeeper – Oliver Kahn – is of partly Latvian descent.