Deniss Rakels

Deniss Rakeļs (born 20 August 1992 in Jēkabpils) is a Latvian professional footballer who plays for the Latvian national football team.

Deniss Rakels
Deniss Rakels in 2017
Personal information
Full name Deniss Rakels
Date of birth (1992-08-20) 20 August 1992
Place of birth Jēkabpils, Latvia
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Youth career
Jēkabpils RSS
Jēkabpils SC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2
2009–2010 FK Liepājas Metalurgs 40 (27)
2011–2014 Zagłębie Lubin 9 (0)
2011–2013 → GKS Katowice (loan) 47 (16)
2014–2016 Cracovia 61 (26)
2016–2018 Reading 14 (3)
2017–2018 → Lech Poznań (loan) 11 (0)
2018 → Cracovia (loan) 12 (1)
2018–2020 Pafos 25 (2)
2018 → Riga (loan) 12 (2)
2019 → Riga (loan) 12 (3)
National team‡
2008 Latvia U-17[1] 3 (0)
2010 Latvia U-19 3 (0)
2011–2013 Latvia U-21 8 (3)
2010– Latvia 26 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 May 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2018
Rakels playing for Liepājas Metalurgs

Career

Club

Early career in Latvia

Rakels started his youth career in his local club Jēkabpils RSS, later on moving to another club from the same city - Jēkabpils SC. In 2007, he left, signing for FK Liepājas Metalurgs-2 in the Latvian First League. While playing for the reserve team of Metalurgs, he was an outstanding team leader - he scored regularly and was impressive with his speed to finish the through balls. In 2009, only 17 years old, he was taken to the first team by that time Metalurgs manager Rüdiger Abramczik. He had no difficulties to fit into the first team level soon after joining, becoming a regular first eleven player. Even more - he scored in nearly every appearance. In fact, just after a few appearances Rakels had already completed 2 league hat-tricks. His technique and footballing skills impressed many coaches all around the world, despite him being just 18.[2] In December 2009 he went on trial with the Italian Serie A side Sampdoria. In April 2010 he joined Swiss Super League team Basel on trial,[3] and in August 2010 in a league game against FK Ventspils he was scouted by Werder Bremen scouts.[4]

Zagłębie Lubin

In December 2010 it was announced that Rakels would go on a training camp together with the Russian Premier League giants Rubin Kazan in January 2011, but the player himself decided to reject the offer, because the Polish Ekstraklasa club Zagłębie Lubin were interested in signing him.[5] This scenario turned out to be true and on 30 January 2011, after passing medical tests, Rakels signed a three-year contract with them.[6] Later on the player himself admitted that till the very last day before signing a contract with Zagłębie the representatives of the Ukrainian Premier League club Karpaty Lviv had been trying to persuade him to join their club, despite several previous refusals from the player.[7]

GKS Katowice

On 17 August 2011 Rakels was sent on a season long loan spell to Polish I liga club GKS Katowice to gain experience due to his limited game time in Lubin.[8] He scored 5 goals in 20 matches for the club, returning to Zagłębie after the season. It was reported that Rakels would be loaned to GKS for another season in August 2012.[9] In his second season with GKS Rakels scored 11 goals in 27 matches, becoming one of the league's top scorers. In July 2013 he went on trial with the English Football League Championship club Brighton & Hove Albion, but did not stay with them, despite scoring a goal in a pre-season friendly match.[10] Before the start of the 2013–14 Ekstraklasa season Rakels returned to Zagłębie Lubin.[11]

Cracovia

On 15 January 2014 Rakels decided to sign a half-year contract with Cracovia, the contract was later extended.[12]

Reading

On 28 January 2016 Rakels signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Reading for an undisclosed fee.[13] Rakels made his Reading debut on 6 February 2016, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute for Matěj Vydra, in their 0–0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[14] He scored his first goal for Reading when he struck a late winner in a 4–3 win at Charlton Athletic on 27 February 2016.[15]

Rakels was stretchered off during Reading's EFL Cup second round match against Milton Keynes Dons on 23 August 2016 with a suspected fractured ankle.[16] This Injury kept Rakels out of first team football for the remainder of the 2016–17 season, making only a handful of Under-23 appearances.[17]

Rakels was released by Reading at the end of his contract on 30 June 2018.[18]

Lech Poznań (loan)

On 16 June 2017, Rakels underwent a medical with Lech Poznań ahead of a season-long loan deal.[19][20] 10 days later, on 26 June 2017, Reading confirmed that Rakels had joined Lech Poznań on a season-long loan deal.[21]

Cracovia (loan)

On 17 January 2018, Reading confirmed that Rakels' loan deal with Lech Poznań had ended, and that Rakels had joined Cracovia on loan for the remainder of the season.[22]

Pafos FC

On 16 July 2018, Rakels signed for Cypriot First Division club Pafos FC, and then immediately joined Latvian Higher League club Riga FC on loan.[23]

International

Rakels was a member of Latvia U-19 and Latvia U-21 football teams. In June 2010 he was firstly called up to the Latvia national football team for the 2010 Baltic Cup by the manager Aleksandrs Starkovs, who was impressed by the youngster's great form in the national championship.[24] He made his international debut on 18 June 2010 in a 0–0 draw against Lithuania, coming on as a substitute in the 75th minute and replacing Andrejs Perepļotkins.[25]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 May 2020[26][27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liepājas Metalurgs 2009 Virslīga 149—1[lower-alpha 1]0—159
2010 261810—2[lower-alpha 2]0—2918
Total 402710—30—4427
Zagłębie Lubin 2010–11 Ekstraklasa 4000———40
2013–14 5000———50
Total 9000———90
Katowice (loan) 2011–12 I liga 20500———205
2012–13 271100———2711
Total 471600———4716
Cracovia 2013–14 Ekstraklasa 8000———80
2014–15 331131———3612
2015–16 201541———2416
Total 612672———6828
Reading 2015–16 Championship 1232000——143
2016–17 200010——30
2017–18 000000——00
Total 1432010——173
Lech Poznań (loan) 2017–18 Ekstraklasa 11000—3[lower-alpha 1]0—140
Total 11000—30—140
Cracovia (loan) 2017–18 Ekstraklasa 12100———121
Total 12100———121
Riga (loan) 2018 Higher League 12231———153
Total 12231———153
Pafos 2018–19 Cypriot First Division 17140———211
2019–20 8110———91
Total 25250———302
Riga (loan) 2019 Higher League 12300—70–193
Total 12300—70—193
Career total 24380183101300027583
  1. Appearances in the Europa League
  2. Appearances in the Champions League

International
Latvia
YearAppsGoals
201020
201100
201200
201330
201410
201580
201600
201730
Total170

Statistics accurate as of match played 9 June 2017[28]

International goals
Scores and results list Latvia's goal tally first.[28]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 November 2018Astana Arena, Astana, Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1–11–12018–19 UEFA Nations League D

Honours
Liepājas Metalurgs

Personal life

Rakels is of Polish descent. He has many tattoos on his body, they include his name, his mother's name, and a wish for his parents written in Arabic.[29]

References
  1. "Deniss Rakels". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  2. Rakeļs raises Metalurgs expectations 5.07.2010, uefa.com
  3. http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/03052010-vai_deniss_rakels_parcelsies_uz_basel
  4. http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/lmt_virsliga/19082010-ventspils_un_metalurga_spele_werder_skaut
  5. "Rakels tomēr nav vienojies ar Kazaņas "Rubin"". tvnet.lv. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  6. Deniss Rakels podpisał kontrakt z Zagłębiem Lubin 30.01.2011, onet.pl
  7. "Rakels stāsta par pāreju uz Poliju un ukraiņu uzmākšanos". sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. "Rakels izīrēts uz Polijas 1. līgu, Putniņš ielaiž četrus vārtus". sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  9. "Rakels arī šosezon būs izīrēts Polijas pirmās līgas klubam Katovices GKS". kasjauns.lv. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  10. "Transfer News: Brighton eye move for Latvian international Deniss Rakels". skysports.com. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  11. "Rakels pieteikts Polijas Ekstraklasei "Zaglebie" sastāvā". sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  12. "Deniss Rakels w Cracovii!". cracovia.pl. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  13. "Rakels is a Royal". readingfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  14. "Reading 0-0 Wolves". www.readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  15. "Charlton 3-4 Reading". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  16. "Reading FC striker Deniss Rakels could be facing long lay-off with suspected fractured ankle". getreading.co.uk. Get Reading. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  17. "Reading FC injury update: Deniss Rakels no closer to first-team return". readingchronicle.co.uk. Reading Chronicle. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  18. "Mendes and Quinn amongst those set to leave club". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  19. "Rakels na testach medycznych". lechpoznan.pl (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  20. "Lech czeka na dokumenty z Reading". lechpoznan.pl (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  21. "Rakels loaned to Lech Poznań". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  22. "Rakels returns to Cracovia on loan". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  23. "Riga FC sastāvu pastiprina Deniss Rakels". rigafc.lv/ (in Latvian). Riga FC. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  24. "Starkovs nosauc kandidātus Baltijas kausam". sportacentrs.com. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  25. "Latvijas Futbola federācija". www.lff.lv. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  26. "Deniss Rakels". www.90minut.pl (in Polish). 90minut. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  27. Deniss Rakels at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  28. "Rakels, Deniss". National Football Teams. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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