Olimpija Liepaja
Encyclopedia
Olimpija Liepāja was Latvia
n 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
.
sport club. Only later it became primarily a football club. Until 1924 the strongest football club in Liepāja
was Liepājas LNMS but after that started the era of Olimpija domination.
In 1924 Olimpija won the second place among province (non-Riga
) Latvian clubs and played its first international friendlies. In 1925 Olimpija won the competition among province clubs and got to play against Rīgas FK
for the Latvian football title. Olimpija lost 3:4 in overtime but still was the first club from the province to come up with a serious challenge against the Riga clubs.
In 1926 Olimpija was again the second club in Latvia and its players became a serious force in the Latvia national team (in a friendly against Lithuania
) played six footballers from Olimpija.
In 1927 was formed a new league in Latvia - Virslīga
- in which could play clubs from both Riga and other cities. Olimpija became the first Virslīga champions. In 1928 and 1929 the club won 2 more titles. From 1928 to 1930 Olimpija won the Riga Football Cup
three years in a row and thus became its permanent owner.
Early 1930s came less successful - in 1930 and 1931 Olimpija finished second in Virslīga behind Rīgas FK
both times, in 1932 - only 4th. But in 1933 the club won another Latvian league title. The next title came in 1936. Then - in 1938 and 1939. In 1940 Olimpija was disbanded by the Soviets, but in 1941 after the Nazi occupation the club was rebuilt. In 1944 the club became defunct the second and final time.
Many former Olimpija players later played for Daugava Liepāja which was founded in 1945 (at least 9 former Olimpija players were in the Daugava squad that won the 1946 Latvian league title). Those included Voldemārs Sudmalis
, Kārlis Tīls
and Ernests Ziņģis. So theoretically Daugava (and also - Liepājas Metalurgs) can be considered successors of Olimpija.
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 that in the 1920-1930s was one of the strongest in Latvia and with which played many 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...
footballers. It was from the city of Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
.
History
Olimpija was founded in 1909 as a bicycleBicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
sport club. Only later it became primarily a football club. Until 1924 the strongest football club in Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
was Liepājas LNMS but after that started the era of Olimpija domination.
In 1924 Olimpija won the second place among province (non-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,...
) Latvian clubs and played its first international friendlies. In 1925 Olimpija won the competition among province clubs and got to play against 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...
for the Latvian football title. Olimpija lost 3:4 in overtime but still was the first club from the province to come up with a serious challenge against the Riga clubs.
In 1926 Olimpija was again the second club in Latvia and its players became a serious force in the Latvia national team (in a friendly against Lithuania
Lithuania national football team
The national football team of Lithuania is under the auspices of the Lithuanian Football Federation. It played its first match in 1923. In 1940, Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union; the country regained its independence in 1990 and played their first match as a new nation against Georgia on...
) played six footballers from Olimpija.
In 1927 was formed a new league in Latvia - Virslīga
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...
- in which could play clubs from both Riga and other cities. Olimpija became the first Virslīga champions. In 1928 and 1929 the club won 2 more titles. From 1928 to 1930 Olimpija 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....
three years in a row and thus became its permanent owner.
Early 1930s came less successful - in 1930 and 1931 Olimpija finished second in Virslīga behind 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...
both times, in 1932 - only 4th. But in 1933 the club won another Latvian league title. The next title came in 1936. Then - in 1938 and 1939. In 1940 Olimpija was disbanded by the Soviets, but in 1941 after the Nazi occupation the club was rebuilt. In 1944 the club became defunct the second and final time.
Many former Olimpija players later played for Daugava Liepāja which was founded in 1945 (at least 9 former Olimpija players were in the Daugava squad that won the 1946 Latvian league title). Those included Voldemārs Sudmalis
Voldemars Sudmalis
Voldemārs Sudmalis was a Latvian football defender, one of the most popular post-war footballers from Liepāja. Sudmalis is considered the most skillful footballer in the history of Liepāja, he had a good speed, tactical strength and he played well with the head.-Biography:Sudmalis started his...
, Kārlis Tīls
Karlis Tils
Kārlis Tīls was a Latvian international football defender and football manager, one of the most legendary footballers in the history of Liepāja.-Biography:...
and Ernests Ziņģis. So theoretically Daugava (and also - Liepājas Metalurgs) can be considered successors of Olimpija.