Kaspars Gorkšs

Nationality: Latvian
Date of birth: 6 November 1981
Association president since: 2018

• Kaspars Gorkšs was born in Riga. His father Juris Gorkšs was connected to football for many years – he worked for the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) and was the founder of FK Auda, where Kaspars took his first footballing steps.

• Early in his career, Gorkšs moved to Sweden, where he played for Östers IF and Assyriska IF. He returned home to join FK Ventspils, with whom he won his only Latvian title in 2006. Gorkšs went on to enjoy a number of years in England, playing for Blackpool, Reading, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers. Gorkšs is one of only three Latvian footballers to have played in the English Premier League. He also had spells in Greece and the Czech Republic.

• Gorkšs played 89 matches for the Latvian national team and was the long-term captain. In 2017 he ended his playing career, and was elected as LFF president in April 2018, succeeding Guntis Indriksons after the latter’s decision to step down. Gorkšs has pledged to further develop Latvia’s football infrastructures. "“I used to fight until the very end on the football pitch, and I will have the same attitude towards my new role,” he said