FK ASK
Encyclopedia
FK ASK Riga
was a Latvia
n football
club of the Latvian army, founded in 1923. In the 1920s and 1930s it was one of the leading clubs in Latvia. In 1940s it was disbanded, a new football club of the Soviet army was created in Riga under the name FK AVN, later AVN was renamed to ASK. It became defunct in 1970.
. The stadium of ASK (built in 1923) was one of the main football arenas in Riga
, Latvia national football team
played many matches there.
In 1924 ASK finished second in Riga, but both in 1925 and 1926 it finished last and thus in 1927 it didn't earn a place in the newly founded Virsliga
(first league in Latvia to have clubs from both Riga and other cities). In 1928 ASK earned a promotion to Virsliga by beating LNJS Liepāja.
In 1932 ASK won its first Virsliga title (in a golden match against Riga Vanderer
). As at the end of the season both clubs had equal points and it was the first such precedent in the Latvian league and no regulations existed for such situations to determine the champion, at first the position was that both clubs would be given 1st place in the league however none of the would be considered champion, that title remaining with Rīgas FK
- last year winners. However a vote in the Latvian Football Union decided that the champion would be decided in a golden match. In the golden match ASK won 3:1 Rehtšprehers, Bredersons and Timpers scored for ASK, Jenihs - for Vanderer. In 1933 ASK won the Riga Football Cup
, in the finals they beat Vanderer again.
Through the entire 1930s ASK was always close to the top but it couldn't win another Latvian title as Olimpija Liepāja
and Rīgas FK
usually came out with more points at the end of the season, that came only during German occupation of Latvia during World War II
.
In 1940 ASK together with other popular Latvian football clubs was disbanded by the Soviets but in 1941 it was reformed. In 1942 and 1943 it won the Latvian league, and in 1943 - the Latvian Cup. In 1944 as the Soviet Army entered Riga the club was disbanded again, one of its star players - Aleksandrs Vanags
later became popular while playing with RC Strasbourg
in France
.
who only played with AVN for one year (in 1952), however later he played with top Soviet clubs - CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow
and even made one international appearance for USSR national football team
. It was restored just a year later and earned promotion to the top league at the end of the 1954 season. Just one year later it was renamed to ASK Riga.
). Just like AVN this ASK was a club that didn't rely too much on the local footballers, but at least some Latvians did get a chance to play there and one of them was future Daugava Rīga professional and Latvia national football team
coach Jānis Gilis
.
The second half of the 1960s wasn't as good for ASK as the first one, and in 1970 it became defunct.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
was a Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club of the Latvian army, founded in 1923. In the 1920s and 1930s it was one of the leading clubs in Latvia. In 1940s it was disbanded, a new football club of the Soviet army was created in Riga under the name FK AVN, later AVN was renamed to ASK. It became defunct in 1970.
Original FK ASK
ASK was founded as a football club with the Latvian army in 1923. In its first year the club earned a promotion to the top Riga division by beating Union RigaUnion Riga
Union Riga was a football club established in Riga in 1907. It was the winner of the Riga football league in 1910. In the period of independence of Latvia between the World wars Union played in the Latvian Higher League for several years...
. The stadium of ASK (built in 1923) was one of the main football arenas in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia national football team
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
played many matches there.
In 1924 ASK finished second in Riga, but both in 1925 and 1926 it finished last and thus in 1927 it didn't earn a place in the newly founded Virsliga
Virsliga
-Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs...
(first league in Latvia to have clubs from both Riga and other cities). In 1928 ASK earned a promotion to Virsliga by beating LNJS Liepāja.
In 1932 ASK won its first Virsliga title (in a golden match against Riga Vanderer
Riga Vanderer
Riga Vanderer was a Latvian football club that was founded in 1927, disbanded in 1940, restored a year later and disbanded again in 1944.-Founding:...
). As at the end of the season both clubs had equal points and it was the first such precedent in the Latvian league and no regulations existed for such situations to determine the champion, at first the position was that both clubs would be given 1st place in the league however none of the would be considered champion, that title remaining with Rīgas FK
Rigas FK
Riga FK was a Latvian football club which was founded December 14, 1923. It was the strongest and most popular Latvian football club in 1920s and 1930s, it was also the base team for Latvia national football team in its early years...
- last year winners. However a vote in the Latvian Football Union decided that the champion would be decided in a golden match. In the golden match ASK won 3:1 Rehtšprehers, Bredersons and Timpers scored for ASK, Jenihs - for Vanderer. In 1933 ASK won the Riga Football Cup
Riga Football Cup
Riga Football Cup was a knockout tournament held in Latvian football between 1925 and 1936. In 1937 it was replaced by the Latvian Football Cup. Clubs from other cities than Riga were allowed to participate in the tournament....
, in the finals they beat Vanderer again.
Through the entire 1930s ASK was always close to the top but it couldn't win another Latvian title as Olimpija Liepāja
Olimpija Liepaja
Olimpija Liepāja was Latvian football club that in the 1920-1930s was one of the strongest in Latvia and with which played many Latvia national football team footballers. It was from the city of Liepāja.-History:...
and Rīgas FK
Rigas FK
Riga FK was a Latvian football club which was founded December 14, 1923. It was the strongest and most popular Latvian football club in 1920s and 1930s, it was also the base team for Latvia national football team in its early years...
usually came out with more points at the end of the season, that came only during German occupation of Latvia during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1940 ASK together with other popular Latvian football clubs was disbanded by the Soviets but in 1941 it was reformed. In 1942 and 1943 it won the Latvian league, and in 1943 - the Latvian Cup. In 1944 as the Soviet Army entered Riga the club was disbanded again, one of its star players - Aleksandrs Vanags
Aleksandrs Vanags
Aleksandrs Vanags , aka Alexandre Vanags, was a Latvian football and basketball player. At a young age he debuted in the Latvia national football team, after World War II he played football in France.-Biography:...
later became popular while playing with RC Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
FK AVN
In 1945 a new army football club - FK AVN - was created to replace the former ASK. In the early 1950s it was one of the strongest football clubs in Latvia that won the Latvian league in 1950 and 1952 and the Latvian Cup in 1950-1952. Still it was a completely different club than the former ASK as it Soviet soldiers from different Soviet republics played with it. In 1953 the club was disbanded as a part of the process of eliminating army clubs all over the USSR. The most notable footballer of this era of the club was the goalkeeper Valentin IvakinValentin Ivakin
Valentin Gavrilovich Ivakin was a Soviet football goalkeeper and manager.-Playing career:Valentin Ivakin was born in Uryupinsk. At the age of 17 without former training in football he joined the local football club Pishevik...
who only played with AVN for one year (in 1952), however later he played with top Soviet clubs - CSKA Moscow and Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...
and even made one international appearance for USSR national football team
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
. It was restored just a year later and earned promotion to the top league at the end of the 1954 season. Just one year later it was renamed to ASK Riga.
Soviet FK ASK
FK ASK had a strong dominance in the Latvian league in 1960s as it won the Latvian league 6 years in a row (such a result was surpassed only in the 1990s by Skonto FCSkonto FC
Skonto FC is a Latvian football club, founded in 1991. The club plays at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Skonto won the Virsliga in the first 14 seasons of the league's existence , and often provides the core of the Latvia national football team...
). Just like AVN this ASK was a club that didn't rely too much on the local footballers, but at least some Latvians did get a chance to play there and one of them was future Daugava Rīga professional and Latvia national football team
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
coach Jānis Gilis
Janis Gilis
Jānis Gilis , was the first general manager of Latvia national football team after Latvia regained independence.-Playing career:...
.
The second half of the 1960s wasn't as good for ASK as the first one, and in 1970 it became defunct.
Honours
- Latvian top league winners: 11 (1932, 1942, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1960-1965)
- Latvian Cup winners: 6 (1943, 1950-1952, 1959, 1960, 1966)
Notable past players
- Aleksandrs VanagsAleksandrs VanagsAleksandrs Vanags , aka Alexandre Vanags, was a Latvian football and basketball player. At a young age he debuted in the Latvia national football team, after World War II he played football in France.-Biography:...
- Arvīds JurgensArvids JurgensArvīds Jurgens was a Latvian footballer, ice hockey, basketball and bandy player who play played for Latvia national teams in all four of these sports...
- Valentin IvakinValentin IvakinValentin Gavrilovich Ivakin was a Soviet football goalkeeper and manager.-Playing career:Valentin Ivakin was born in Uryupinsk. At the age of 17 without former training in football he joined the local football club Pishevik...
- Jānis GilisJanis GilisJānis Gilis , was the first general manager of Latvia national football team after Latvia regained independence.-Playing career:...