var playerInfo={"LpP08oj6SrN\/X+OPM9rkLg==":"\ub77c\ud2b8\ube44\uc544","0hEutFH3ijg=":"","9xjkpjFDzIpX0xCsFSyjXg==":"A central midfield player who is captain and leader of the Latvian national side, Vitalis Astafjevs is an intelligent and technically-gifted player who has a crucial role in virtually every attacking move.

National team

Astafjevs made his international debut on 26 August 1992 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Denmark ?a goalless draw. He was a key figure in the team over the next decade, making significant contributions to their World Cup and UEFA European Championship qualifying campaigns.

UEFA EUR0 2004? qualifying

The midfield player featured in six of Latvia's Group 4 fixtures and both play-off matches against Turkey. Although he failed to score, he created a number of goals for his team-mates.

Club

Astafjevs started out at the Daugava sports academy before moving to FK Pardaugava in 1990 and helping that club to second place in the Latvian top flight the following year.

1992: He joined Skonto FC in 1992, and enjoyed much collective and individual success with the Riga side, claiming five consecutive league titles and two Latvian Cups and being named Latvian player of the year in 1995, 1996 and 1999. Astafjevs also had a brief spell with FK Austria Wien in 1996\/97, but returned to Skonto after a year and continued to rack up trophies, winning a total of eight championships and three cups in his homeland.

2000: The midfield player signed for English club Bristol Rovers FC in 1999\/00, and scored 16 goals in 109 league games over the next four seasons.

2003\/04: He opted to return to Austria in summer 2003, signing for VfB Admira Wacker M?dling.

Did you know?

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