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Baltic League

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Baltic League
Founded2007
Folded2011
Country Estonia
 Latvia
 Lithuania
Number of teams12 (2007–2008)
16 (2009–2011)
Last championsLatvia Skonto
(2010–11)
Most championshipsLatvia Metalurgs
Lithuania Kaunas
Latvia Ventspils
Latvia Skonto (1 title)
TV partnersViasat Sport Baltic

The Baltic League (officially known as the Triobet Baltic League) was a Baltic men's football club tournament held four times between the top club sides from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.[1] Launched in 2007 inspired by the now defunct Scandinavian tournament Royal League and by the Baltic Basketball League.

History

The first two tournaments were held between top four club sides from each country. For 2009–10 the competition was expanded to 16 teams, with five sides from every Baltic state taking part. One additional slot was allocated to the sixth best team from the country of the previous winner.

A similar competition was the Baltic Champions Cup which featured the league champions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The inaugural tournament in 2007 finished as a two legged final. This format was abandoned for the second tournament and subsequent finals were played as a single match at the home of one of the finalists. After this format was introduced, the team hosting the match did not win despite the added home advantage.

The first two tournaments were played from Spring to Summer with 12 entrants but this changed to a longer Winter to Summer tournament with four more clubs taking part.

Finals

Season Winner Score Runner-up Venue(s) Referee
2007 Latvia Metalurgs 8 – 2 (aggregate)
3 – 1, 5 – 1
Latvia Ventspils Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions, Ventspils
Daugava Stadium, Liepāja
Estonia Kristo Tohver
Lithuania Audrius Žuta
2008 Lithuania Kaunas 2 – 1
Latvia Skonto Skonto Stadions, Riga Estonia Hannes Kaasik
2009–10 Latvia Ventspils 3 – 3 (a.e.t.)
5 – 3 (pen.)
Lithuania Sūduva Sūduva Stadium, Marijampolė Estonia Sten Kaldma
2010–11 Latvia Skonto 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
5 – 4 (pen.)
Latvia Ventspils Ventspils Olimpiskais Stadions, Ventspils Lithuania Nerijus Dunauskas

Statistics

Performances by club

Club 1st 2nd Seasons Seasons Won
Latvia Ventspils 1 2 4  2009–10
Latvia Skonto 1 1 4  2010–11
Latvia Metalurgs 1 0 4  2007
Lithuania Kaunas 1 0 2  2008
Lithuania Sūduva 0 1 3  
Lithuania Ekranas 0 0 4  
Estonia Flora 0 0 4  
Estonia Levadia 0 0 4  
Estonia Trans 0 0 4  
Latvia Dinaburg 0 0 2  
Lithuania Žalgiris 0 0 2  
Estonia TVMK 0 0 2  
Lithuania Vėtra 0 0 2  
Lithuania Banga 0 0 2  
Latvia Jūrmala 0 0 2  
Estonia Kalju 0 0 2  
Estonia Sillamäe Kalev 0 0 2  
Lithuania Šiauliai 0 0 2  
Lithuania Tauras 0 0 2  
Latvia Rīga 0 0 1  
Latvia Olimps 0 0 1  
Latvia Blāzma 0 0 1  

By country

Country 1st 2nd Seasons Won
 Latvia 3 3  2007, 2009–10, 2010–11
 Lithuania 1 1  2008
 Estonia 0 0  

All-time top goalscorers

# Player Goals
1 Latvia Aleksandrs Cauņa 10
Latvia Ģirts Karlsons 10
3 Lithuania Ričardas Beniušis 8
4 Brazil Rafael Gaúcho 7
5 Latvia Genādijs Soloņicins 6
Lithuania Egidijus Varnas 6
7 Lithuania Mindaugas Kalonas 5
Latvia Mihails Miholaps 5
Latvia Andrejs Perepļotkins 5
10 Latvia Viktors Dobrecovs 4
Estonia Aleksandr Dubõkin 4
Georgia (country) Vladimir Dvalishvili 4
Latvia Oļegs Laizāns 4
Latvia Vīts Rimkus 4
Ukraine Serhij Sernecki 4
Estonia Vjatšeslav Zahovaiko 4
Latvia Aleksejs Višņakovs 4

References

  1. ^ "Baltic Club Competitions – Overview". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 January 2022.