When Slovak coach Adrián Guľa took the reins at Riga FC, expectations were high — but the start was anything but promising. Just two wins from the first six rounds of the Latvian Virslīga had critics questioning his future in the job. Whispers of an early exit grew louder. But what followed was one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the season — one that has taken Riga FC to the top of the table and established Guľa as a transformative figure in Baltic football.
Speaking with Martin Rendek for Hospodárske Noviny, Guľa recounted the highs and lows of his journey in Riga — and how he turned doubt into dominance.
The slow start had its reasons. After an intensive pre-season training camp in Dubai, the team returned to drastically different conditions: cold weather, artificial pitches, and near-empty stands that dulled the edge of home-field advantage. “In the first nine rounds, matches were played exclusively on artificial turf — an equalizer that neutralized the technical quality of superior squads,” Guľa explained.
But the coach remained calm. He and his staff stuck to their tactical plan, even when the results didn’t immediately show. “Even in the matches we lost, we dominated the game,” he said. “When you register 30 shots in the final third, you know you’re doing a lot right.”
The coaching staff began to make strategic tweaks. They rotated the lineup, prioritizing players with stronger mental and physical resilience — those better suited for the grinding nature of early-season Latvian football. It worked. As better playing surfaces and stadiums came into play, and the team grew in confidence and chemistry, Riga FC launched into a stunning run of form: 14 consecutive wins (equaling the club record, the author notes) and a 17-match unbeaten streak.
Today, after 20 rounds, Riga sits atop the league with 51 points, holding a five-point cushion over city rivals FC RFS. The transformation has been so complete that the title is no longer just a hope — it’s the clear objective. “The ambitions in this club are the highest. We’re here to win titles,” Guľa declared. The team also has its eyes on the UEFA Conference League, where he hopes to carry their domestic dominance into Europe.
For Guľa, adjusting to Latvian football has come with surprises. “The calendar runs from March to November, with an intense match rhythm — sometimes with games on Mondays or Thursdays. In May alone, we played seven league matches. August may bring even more.”
Despite his experience in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Cyprus, Guľa says the Latvian league offers its own unique challenges. Chief among them: the lack of fan culture and infrastructure. “The passion here doesn’t compare to what you see in Poland or the Czech Republic. Even Slovakia and Cyprus are ahead in terms of stadiums and crowd energy,” he admits. “It makes you appreciate how far Slovak football has come in terms of facilities.”
Still, Riga FC boasts talent that wouldn’t look out of place in Slovakia’s top tier. Players like Abdulrahman Taiwo (70 matches in the Niké Liga) and Brian Peňa (43 matches) are key pillars. Guľa believes his current squad could compete with the best in Slovakia, even if not quite at the level of Slovan Bratislava just yet. “We’d definitely be a tough opponent for teams like Trnava, Dunajská Streda, or Žilina,” he asserts.
And the search for improvement never stops. The Slovak market remains firmly on his radar. “Especially when results matter immediately, I prefer bringing in players I know — both in terms of football and character. Slovakia has plenty of quality players, and it’s an attractive market for us.”
Last Sunday, Adrián Guľa celebrated his 50th birthday — not with nostalgia, but with determination. He doesn’t dwell on age. Instead, he finds inspiration in coaches like Carlo Ancelotti and Gian Piero Gasperini, who’ve proven that long-term consistency and value are what truly define greatness.
“Anyone can burst onto the scene like a comet,” Guľa reflects. “But you can’t fake long-term results. What matters is your ability to keep bringing value to your club and players, over and over.”
Source: Hospodárske Noviny
