Kaspars Gorkšs

Gorkšs at the Latvian National Team (2011)

Kaspars Gorkšs ( born November 6, 1981 in Riga) is a Latvian footballer who plays for FC Reading since summer 2011 and is currently captain of the Latvian national team.

Career

In the club

Kaspars Gorkšs was born in 1981 in Riga and began his career with local club FK Auda. Until 2002, he brought it there on 77 league games and nine goals, until he moved to Sweden in December to Östers IF. After 32 games and scoring a goal, he moved in January 2005 to league rivals Assyriska Föreningen. But after just one season, he returned to his home country, to the championship third from the previous year FK Ventspils. With five goals in the season he made with the team winning the Virsliga 2006. During the season 2006/ 07 he played in the UEFA Cup against the English club Newcastle United and lost with 0:1.

On 1 January 2007 the exchange of Gorkšs for Blackpool FC became known. After ten missions until the end of the season, he was in the 2007/ 08 season in August in the "Team of the Week" of the Football League Championship selected. Eight days later, he helped his team in the League Cup to reach the next round against Derby County. After County in the first half, a goal by Mo Camara was a guide, resembled Gorkšs just before the end and saved his team into overtime. There, too, Derby County went back in the lead, to turn Gorkšs in the 120th minute equalizer away. At the end of Blackpool won 7-6 on penalties. In the first week of October, he was back to the "Team of the Week". His first Ligaspieltor he scored on 10 November in a 1-0 victory over Scunthorpe United. In December, he belonged to the shortlisted for the award of the " Latvian Footballer of the Year ", but this went to the most-capped player Vitālijs Astafjevs Skonto Riga. On 25 February 2008 and on 10 March he was again elected to the "Team of the Week". In early May, he was elected by the fans to the "Player of the Year" and the following day he took the option for a one-year contract extension. After a good season and many applications have been known rumors about switching to the Glasgow Rangers or other English clubs such as Burnley, Crystal Palace, Preston North End FC or the Watford. On 28 May, he was reportedly close to a swap deal with Wes Hoolahan for Norwich City.

On June 12, the Queens Park Rangers announced that they had Kaspars Gorkšs submit a contract offer. On June 17, the FC Blackpool gave a statement to the fact that they reported the Queens Park Rangers in the FA and the Football League, as they suspected an illegal procedure for the offer. Blackpool 's manager Simon Grayson said in an interview that the club will protect its interests and those of the QPR action was not legal. On July 4, was falsely reported that Gorkšs had signed a contract with the " Rangers ". QPR wrote on her official website that she got from FC Blackpool a permit for contract talks. But its president Karl Oyston argued from this in an interview and was disappointed as the Queens Park Rangers want to conduct their business. Later, the " Rangers " removed the article from their website again.

On July 28, he finally moved to long talks for a transfer fee of £ 250,000 to Queens Park Rangers. Furthermore, Daniel Nardiello moved to Blackpool and Zeshan Rehman was awarded for one year. He made his debut on 9 August in a 2-1 home win over FC Barnsley. His first goal of the season, he scored only in the 2009/10 season 7 November 2009 in a 2-1 away win at Sheffield Wednesday. In September 2010, he extended his contract by two years. With the Rangers, he managed in the 2010/11 season promotion to the Premier League, but after 114 league games and scored six goals he left the club.

On 24 August 2011, he signed a three -year contract with FC Reading. His debut in the Reading - shirt, he completed three days later in the 0-1 away defeat to Hull City. He he completed 42 league games for Reading and won with his team the Football League Championship 2011/12.

In February 2013 until July 2013 Gorkšs was loaned to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

National

Gorkšs was already active for the U- 21 team in Latvia. His debut for the senior team, he was on 24 December 2005 against Thailand during the 36th edition of the King 's Cup. On 11 October 2006, he debuted in the qualifying campaign for the 2008 European Football Championship, when he came onto the field during the game against Northern Ireland in the second half for Māris Smirnov. In February, he took part in a football tournament in Cyprus with the national team. In the semifinals, he played in the 0-2 defeat against Bulgaria over the full distance. The following day, also the game went for third place against Hungary with 0:2 lost. On 17 October 2007 against Denmark scored his first international goal. Gorkšs There is currently captain of the Latvian national team.

Others

Kaspars Gorkšs has two children. His daughter was born in 2005 Luize and in October 2007 was followed by his son Patrik. His two brothers Jorens and Rihards also played for FK Auda and his father Juris Gorkšs is the president of the association.

Achievements

• Virsliga: 2006

• Winner of the playoffs in the Football League One 2006/ 07

• Promotion to the Premier League 2010/11

• Football League Championship 2011/12
• Promotion to the Premier League 2012/13

• "Team of the Week" of the Football League Championship: August 20, 2007
• "Team of the Week" of the Football League Championship: October 1, 2007
• "Team of the Week" of the Football League Championship: February 25, 2008
• "Team of the Week" of the Football League Championship: March 10, 2008
• "Team of the Week" of the Football League Championship: September 27, 2010
• Player of the year in Latvia: 2009, 2010