Latvian Football Federation has officially confirmed that Latvia national team head coach Paolo Nicolato will remain in charge of the national side after signing a new contract running until the end of 2027.
The 59-year-old Italian specialist had originally signed only a short-term extension at the end of December with one clear objective – keeping Latvia in UEFA Nations League C. That target was successfully achieved in March when Latvia defeated Gibraltar national football team 2-0 on aggregate across two matches to secure survival in the division.
Following today’s Latvian Football Federation board meeting, Nicolato officially received the green light to continue his work with the national team for at least another year and a half. During that period Latvia will compete in the upcoming UEFA Nations League C campaign later this year before beginning qualification for UEFA EURO 2028, with the group-stage qualifiers scheduled from March until November 2027.
“ We are satisfied with the work Paolo Nicolato has done with the Latvian national team. He introduced new ideas into the way our team performs and into the overall understanding of how football should be played. We want to continue in this direction,” said LFF president Vadims Ļašenko after the contract extension was confirmed.
“We believe the process started two years ago can lead to good long-term results and success in upcoming competitions.” Nicolato himself admitted that continuing with Latvia was not the easiest decision, but one he made with conviction.
“Maybe it was not the easiest decision, but it was a carefully considered one, and I made it with confidence,” Nicolato said following the announcement.
“It came from the incredible support I received from the federation, my staff, the players and everyone else who appreciated the work we have done. There is still a lot of work ahead, and I am proud to continue this incredible experience with the same passion and optimism. Thank you!”
After the decisive matches against Gibraltar, Nicolato admitted during his post-match press conference that he needed some rest following the emotional relegation battle. The Italian has now received a brief break, although attention quickly turns back to international football, with Latvia set to compete for the Baltic Cup title again in just three weeks. The national team will aim to capture a record-extending 14th Baltic Cup trophy.
Nicolato became Latvia’s head coach in February 2024, replacing long-time national team manager Dainis Kazakevičs. Since taking charge he has overseen 22 matches, recording five victories, seven draws and ten defeats.
The Italian is already the longest-serving foreign head coach in Latvia national team history. Before arriving in Latvia, Nicolato spent years working throughout the Italian national team youth setup, managing multiple age groups ranging from Italy U-18 to Italy U-21.
Source: https://lff.lv/zinas/18980/paolo-nikolato-turpinas-vadit-latvijas-izlasi/
