 | FACTFILE Born: 03/04/71 Club: Admira Wacker Position: Midfielder Debut: 26/08/92 v Denmark |
Captain and midfield linchpin Vitalijs Astafjevs is Latvia's most-capped player with over 100 appearances. After starting out at Daugava sports academy and FK Pardaugava, Astafjevs racked up the trophies during eight years with Skonto Riga.
He also spent four seasons in England with Bristol Rovers before signing for Austrian side Admira Wacker.
Astafjevs is technically gifted and is the source of a large proportion of Latvia's goalscoring chances.
He has a talent for incisive passing and, despite not scoring in the Euro 2004 qualifying campaign, can chip in with important goals.
Vocal on the pitch yet reserved off of it, Astafjevs dislikes the spotlight football brings with it.
Did you know? Astafjevs spent an unsuccessful season with Austria Vienna in the mid-90s before returning to Skonto.
MMIX
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