Star names move on in Latvia

A number of stellar names will be missing when the 2009 Latvian season gets under way in the spring after the champions FK Ventspils released Russian midfield players Zakhar Dubenskiy and Sergei Zangareev while Skonto FC bade farewell to domestic legends Marians Pahars and Vitalis Astafjevs.

Heading home
"My contract with Ventspils has expired and I've decided to return to my hometown of Volgograd," outgoing captain Dubenskiy told uefa.com. He leaves after helping Ventspils to three championship triumphs with countryman Zangareev, who is also heading home. Defender Pavels Mihadjuks, meanwhile, is on the move having agreed a loan to Scottish club Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC until 1 June.

Century of goals
In the capital, Skonto have lost one of their most decorated players as Astafjevs has taken up an option to become player-coach at JFK Olimps. The 37-year-old central midfielder played his first league game for the club back in 1992, and went on to enjoy spells with clubs in Austria, England and Russia before returning to Skonto in 2006. Astafjevs, who captained Latvia at UEFA EURO 2004™, departs having scored 102 times in 287 outings for the club.

Pahars decision
Meanwhile, Pahars is contemplating whether to retire from football at the age of 32 as 14 years in the professional ranks have taken their toll on his ankles. "I've had several offers and things are in progress," he told uefa.com. "I definitely won't play in Latvia, although if Skonto asked me to stay I would, even for a token amount of money." Capped 75 times, Pahars is one of Latvia's most famous exports after scoring 43 times in 137 English league games during a lengthy spell at Southampton FC. Finally, Skonto have decided not to take up an option to sign Edgaras Jankauskas after the Lithuanian international joined midway through the campaign as a free agent.