 | FACTFILE Born: 18/06/75 Club: Rostov Position: Goalkeeper Debut: 09/07/97 v Lithuania |
Aleksandrs Kolinko's six clean sheets in qualifying were instrumental in Latvia reaching the Euro 2004 finals. The inspirational, but sometimes erratic, goalkeeper has been his country's number one for six years.
A product of Skonto Riga's youth academy, he won four league titles with the club before earning a move to Crystal Palace.
His successful spell at Selhurst Park ended abruptly after a controversial bust-up with manager Trevor Francis.
Francis hit Kolinko after spotting him laughing on the bench after the team has just conceded a goal in a match against Bradford.
Kolinko moved on to FC Rostov in the summer of 2003 and is rebuilding his reputation in the Russian Premier-Liga.
Did you know? Kolinko played every minute of Latvia's qualifying campaign.
MMIX
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